Today we’d like to introduce you to Sofia Moon.
Hi Sofia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hi, I’m Sofia. My partner Ian and I created Studio Bubby in 2022. One of my distinct memories as a kid is sitting in the middle of the living room of our then apartment in Mexico City, folding origami. I could sit there for hours, absorbed in the craft of creating figures out of something as simple as paper, and not feel the time pass by. When people asked “What do you want to do when you grow up”, I immediately thought “I want to create things”, but I used to feel self-conscious saying it out loud because it was never received as good enough–it always required more explanation.
As I grew up, I started to understand the reality of the hard work it takes to live a sustainable, comfortable life, especially as an immigrant. After moving to the US for college, I naturally pursued a STEM major because it was a favored path to finding employment and staying in the States. In this process, I found human and nutrition sciences to be fascinating, and for the next couple of years pursued becoming a dietitian. I got really lucky and found good opportunities as a clinical dietitian in the Bay Area. However, I could feel it in my bones that this was not something I could do forever. After a full day of work at the hospital, I would come home and work on side projects because I needed a creative outlet.
I took this as a sign and decided to switch into a more creative field. I got a Masters in Communication Design and since then I’ve been working as a product designer. I’ve been loving this career, but from time to time I still experience a nagging desire to expand on a random idea and create with no expectations.
I think I’ve been searching for the feeling from when I was a kid and had the liberty to make whatever I wanted without needing to achieve any type of result. All this to say, Ian and I created Studio Bubby as our safe space to freely create outside of the confines of work. Our tiger mascot, Bubby, is a representation of our inner child and need for self-expression.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We’ve had a relatively smooth road. We’re very lucky in that we both have stable careers, which has allowed Studio Bubby to be a creative outlet for us both. We both want this endeavor to be something that comes from our hearts and remains genuine. It’s more of a personal journey than a business for us.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Studio Bubby, we create work out of curiosity. Sometimes it starts out as a thought project, other times it’s a means to connect with our culture and identity. Our work has mostly consisted of artwork, but we’ve also ventured into creating physical objects, with our latest creation being keycaps for mechanical keyboards. We put a lot of attention to the sourcing and quality of our products, and we’ve been commended for the quality of our canvas art prints. We also take commissions for design work, a popular service being designs for wedding-related goods. We value creative play, and we’re here to inject some interest and fun into the daily.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
We’re both fortunate to have parents who have supported us and given us all the opportunity in the world. Our parents are immigrants who made large sacrifices for us to be here. They’ve been everything and still are everything.
We also credit our close friends who have supported us in our journey–thank you for believing in us and being there for us!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.studiobubby.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/studio.bubby
Image Credits
Simon Kim (simonkimphoto.com) for film photo
