Tell me your major, grade, and what brought you to LBCC.
My major is in Visual Communications and I’m doing the graphic design track. I am in my last year of school and I’ll finally be graduating this term. I actually started at LBCC in 2017, and I was studying to become a teacher. I transferred over to Western in 2019, about to get my bachelor’s in Elementary Education, and then I stopped taking classes. Covid happened, and I do not do well in online classes. During Covid, I actually opened up a business, kind of in relation to graphic design. I felt like my skills weren’t where they could be, so I looked into graphic design programs and saw they had one here at LBCC, so that brought me back in 2021.
Tell me more about the graphic design business you started.
I opened my small business during Covid and it was an online Etsy store. I made a bunch of stationery items like keychains, stickers, notepads, folders, and washi tape. It was mostly geared to the people of Guam, which is where I was born and raised. I did that mostly because during that time I was very homesick, so I did it as something to keep me connected with my roots. I had the business running for about a year, and then I decided to put it on pause to go to school to continue to strengthen more of my skills. I hope to eventually open up the business again now with the new set of skills I’ve been learning in the Graphic Design program.
What sparked your interest in graphic design?
I actually never really thought about graphic design being my major, but I’ve always been into art ever since I was really young. I didn’t remember how much I enjoyed art until Covid happened. My partner at the time had a tablet with a pen and I was like, “Oh my gosh this is so fun.” I started drawing and it really reignited that passion that I had before. I didn’t draw as much when I was younger, but I loved to make things with my hands, like little ornaments or a bunch of random paper cut outs. As I continued to spend hours at home during COVID with the tablet and pen, I started to feel really good and I thought, “Wow, I want to go to school for this.”
Do you see yourself focusing on a specific aspect of graphic design?
The thing that I like most about graphic design is taking people’s ideas and turning them into design. Sometimes it’s hard for people to turn what they want into a design and it’s really cool to have it be my job to make that come to life for them. I feel like I’d probably focus more on brand design, but I also really enjoy typography and hand lettering. I like to try and keep my designs fun and interactive. I want people to see my art and feel a lot of joy and excitement. However, the thing I feel like the thing that I love the most about it is connecting with people. I hate to admit it, but I am a people person, and I’m very curious about people and love making connections with everyone. That’s my favorite part about being a designer, getting to work with clients and forming relationships with them.
What is your favorite font to design with?
Right now my favorite one is Brandon Grotesque. I don’t know what it is about it, but it’s just really clean, smooth, and classic. I also really like Futura, that’s a really fun one. What’s really awesome too in typography is that you can customize it by kind of tweaking it a little bit, so I like to experiment with taking already set fonts and making it look a little different.
What have you enjoyed most within the graphic design program?
I love the graphic design program, I rave about it all the time. I love the closeness and connectedness that you get with your classmates that are in the same cohort, because you’re following them in the program courses. Another thing I enjoy is, when I started the program, I was very scared of criticism, but that program really deconstructed a lot of that in me. Our instructor, Lewis Franklin, is the program head and he is amazing. You hear stories about some art instructors who kind of push you to this one direction. I feel like with him he pushes you in the best direction for your specific design style. It’s really nice to have an instructor who’s not biased and helps you become the designer that you are meant to be. He’s helped guide me to be a better designer, and helped define more of the kind of designer I am. I feel like that helps a lot with understanding who you are as a designer, which I think is a really important part of being in the program.
What kind of projects are you currently working on within your classes?
One that we’re working on right now is coming up with our own brand identity and Primary Business needs such as creating our own mailing envelopes, letterheads, business cards, and resumes. What’s really awesome is there’s something called a creative resume, and it’s so different from your typical resume and you do it in your own design style. Mine right now is very illustrative and demonstrates a lot of illustration and hand-lettering. The business card is really fun too. Lewis really goes for trying to make your business or identity stand out. We’re also currently working on the Portfolio Show gallery which will showcase the programs graduating class artwork which is really exciting.
What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of school?
When I have time, I like to go mountain biking and snowboarding during the seasons. I also have my dog, Ahu– so I like to spend a lot of time with him and take him on hikes when I can. I like to travel whether it’s just taking the train or flying. Cooking and Baking are always fun activities for me too. I haven’t gotten into the whole sourdough craze yet, but maybe one day because I love a good sourdough.
Where do you hope your education will take you after you graduate?
I always told myself that I think it would be awesome if I could work as a graphic designer and get to do work around the world. But truly I’d be willing to take anything that presents itself because I feel like I could apply these skills anywhere. If I were to dream big, it would be really awesome to open up a design collective with a bunch of my classmates in the program, and maybe eventually become a freelancer or work as a designer with non-profits. I want to open up my business and eventually get that running again and I’ve also always wanted to work at a corporation like Nike or Adidas as a designer, to get some experience working in a big corporate world. But ultimately, I’m willing to seize any opportunity that presents itself and continue to learn and grow as much as I can from each experience I get. I’d truly be grateful for any opportunity, and very humbled to be in a great program with great people and great instructors. I know with their guidance throughout the years, I’ll get far.
Bre will also be presenting at the LBCC Visual Communications Portfolio Show on June 12th.
