Today we’d like to introduce you to Arturo Jimenez.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Arturo. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in Mexico and named after my dad, Arturo. When you pronounce it you gotta roll the first R, Arrrrrrrturo, kinda like a kitty purr. After immigrating to the US and gaining citizenship at a young age, I spent my formative years assimilating and chasing the American dream. My interest in art and design stemmed from doing really bad graffiti in high school, practicing portraiture and sketching while people watching & bingeing on tons of cartoons growing up.
I began college as a business major because I hadn’t fully committed myself to living life as an artist, but when I realized how hard accounting was I dove in face first to the study of design. Ultimately after years of being a super senior, I earned my BFA in Graphic Design & Illustration from Cal State Fullerton in 2014.
Now I’m a SoCal based artist and I run my own freelance design business along with being third in line for the presidency at Hoodzpah Design Co. (God forbid). Amy & Jen Hood, owners of Hoodzpah Design, have mentored me in how to run a successful design business and in return I’ve proven to be a strong asset to the agency.
On top of my time doing freelance, I’m a board member of the AIGA Orange County chapter. As the Director of the Diversity & Inclusion, I lead the initiative on bringing diversity into our community of art and design professionals by championing people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented people. I’m working on bringing ethics and fairness forward by proving that diversity and inclusion are not just a trend or a fad, they are necessary to progressing all businesses and institutions to a place of strength and harmony.
A little more about myself; on my downtime, I love to watch reruns of Bob’s Burgers, and I’m a connoisseur of fast food and hip-hop. Being a California native, I’m pretty afraid of earthquakes but have done absolutely nothing to prep for them. Someday I’d like to have a eureka moment and be behind something that changes the world for the better, until then I’m comfy living in health and happiness with my pups & loved ones.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve struggled a lot with imposter syndrome; feeling like I’m not good enough or I don’t know enough to be in the creative field, but for the most part I’ve been able to bypass these feelings inadequacy by working through it and having perspective on how far I’ve come to date. I have an incredible support system in my family and loved ones who keep me motivated and positive, so far, it’s been a bit of a bumpy road but nothing I haven’t been able to manage.
I do have an issue with not putting myself out there and showing my work as much as I should be. I used to attribute it to being humble and not wanting to show off what I’ve accomplished, but over time I’ve realized that I was just using that as an excuse, in reality I was avoiding being vulnerable and open to criticisms because of insecurities in my work. Coming to terms with that weakness I’ve been working on fixing that, I built my own freelance design business website (arturo-jimenez.com) and put my whole self on display. Everything on that site was designed by me and has a little bit of my heart in it. Also, I feel like doing interviews like this for VoyageLA and posting more of my work online are steps in the right direction!
Please tell us about Arturo Jimenez Design.
My business is doing professional Graphic Design & Illustration based on my client’s needs. I have experience in a ton of different areas of design and I can offer a variety of services, it all depends on what the client is looking for and how they want their brand perceived. Creating compelling artwork is a collaborative effort, so I make it my mission to listen to people’s ideas and actualize them.
I specialize in packaging design, digital mockups, social media marketing and advertising. Additionally, I do layout designs for magazines, a ton of illustrative work, apparel design, web design and blogging. I’m most proud of the work that I’ve created for my client’s social media accounts because it’s the work that gets the most views and has a tangible metric of success. I can show those numbers to future clients and proved that what I design can make a considerable difference in growing their business.
I think what sets me apart from others doing what I do is that my ultimate goal is to deliver quality work while building lasting professional relationships. I don’t want to make something for you and then just cut and run to the next project. I want to build a brand with you and sustain it over time, I relish in watching companies grow from each success we create together because it gives me a sense of accomplishment. By helping others succeed with my talents and expertise I validate myself and my progress towards my craft.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I used to love going to work with my dad. He has been working at a plant nursery for as long as I’ve been alive and he has the greenest thumb of anyone I’ve ever met. Watching him work with his hand, growing plants and selling them was my first introduction into entrepreneurism. From that he taught me the value of hard work and dedication to one’s craft, also the trees he planted in our backyard bore literal fruits of his labor! In my childhood I got to taste some really exotic raw fruits that I think most people have yet to try; loquats, guavas, mangos, persimmons, grapefruit, mulberries, kumquats, figs, every variation of lemon you can think of, and so much more. All these flavors really expanded my mind to what we as people can cultivate with patience and persistence.
I also cherish the memories I had as a kid watching my mother help everyone around us. She is the oldest of 9 siblings so she’s been taking care of people all her life. She’s always had to be the responsible and sensible one in her family being the oldest and I can remember countless times she’s helped my aunts and uncles out of binds, cared for my cousins and nephews coming of age, and supported my grandmother and father as they transitioned into elderly life. She taught me what compassion and selflessness really are and it’s one of the traits I’m most grateful having inherited from her.
Pricing:
- Starting 2018, my hourly rate is $40 per hour.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://arturo-jimenez.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_arthritis_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArturoJimenezDesign
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/_arthritis_
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arturojimenezdesign
Image Credit:
Simard Bilodeau
Cynthia Childs Architect
OC GUTS / Hoodzpah Design
LA Printers Fair
Joel Buekelman
Edens Garden Body Oil Sets
Beyond Meat Beyond Sausage
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
