Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Hsu.
Victoria, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Graphic design has always been the only career path I’ve ever known. My dad brought home a Photoshop Elements 7.0 disc when I was about eight years old, and even had a co-worker of his show me a bit about how to use it. Though I didn’t start using it myself right away, I do believe that being introduced to Photoshop at that time had me thinking about design at a very early age.
In middle school, my best friend’s older sister taught me how to build a simple website. I’d open up Notepad, throw together some HTML, upload it to a FTP server and – voila – I had a “website”! From middle school to early high school, Xanga – a popular blogging platform at the time – became my creative outlet. Aside from pouring out my teenage angst in writing, I began creating themes for my account and designing banners, first by using Microsoft Paint and then by switching over to Photoshop.
I was a lazy student in high school, mainly because nothing we learned ever interested me. To be honest, I thought the laziness was going to follow me for the rest of my life. I attended a very academically competitive school where art schools weren’t talked about much, and I thought the only path I had towards making a sustainable career for myself would be through Universities or State colleges. My mom sent me to a few different tutors to help with my studies. After a few years, my math tutor approached my mom and told her – “I just don’t think Vicky is meant for academics. Let her do what she wants.”
I attended Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles and had no idea what I was getting myself into. At orientation, one of the professors said to us, “Say goodbye to your social life.” And the next four years became a blur. I don’t remember eating or sleeping much, but I do remember many hours in the computer labs. Lots of late nights, costly projects, and stress-induced panic attacks. But something about this season in my life was different compared to my high school years – I was motivated and excited about my work and my future. Everything I did, I wanted to make it the very best. I knew I had taken the right path by going to art school and studying graphic design. I also learned that I, in fact, was not a lazy person. I just needed the right motivation.
My first real design job out of college really threw me in the fire. It was a small, boutique agency working out of a live/work loft in Downtown Los Angeles. For the two and a half years I was there, it was a team of 5-6 people, and I was the only designer working under the Creative Director. It was a lot of work, and I definitely had my struggles and doubts as a young designer. However, in the end, I believe it was well worth it. I can honestly say that much of what I know and use in design today was taught to me at that job.
Overall, I feel that I’ve been very blessed in my career. Every opportunity has always felt like I was in the right place at the right time. My motivation and excitement still grow each day as I continue to find my path and learn more about myself as a designer. Being able to do what you love is an amazing feeling.
Has it been a smooth road?
I don’t think any career has a smooth road, and I think that’s good. Although I can’t say mine was a terrible struggle, I still had many moments throughout my career where I questioned if I was meant to be a designer. As true for many other fields, the success of a designer often depends greatly on the leadership they are working under. Design is creativity, and creativity is subjective. I have worked under some leadership that gave me more freedom, and others that just wanted things a certain way. Learning to work with the latter wasn’t easy, and sometimes it felt like it stunted my creative growth.
Another difficult aspect of design work that took me a while to adjust to was learning to not take things personally. As creatives, we become so attached to our work, our creation, because it’s a representation of ourselves. Sometimes, we forget that others don’t see things the same way. Many times, when that happens, my first thought has always been, “Was my design not good enough? Am I not good enough?” It took some time for me to shake that, and realize that criticism is part of the process. Over the years, these struggles and doubts have made me stronger. It’s true that as a designer working for clients, I am trying to prove myself. But even if someone doesn’t see eye to eye on my work, it doesn’t mean I’m incapable. Even when I feel like I’ve failed at something, being able to get back up and move on from it – still excited about my work – is the most important part.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m currently working as a freelance graphic designer. But having worked at a few small agencies, I’ve had experience in all areas of design – UX/UI, social media marketing, print, packaging, branding, and even some animation! I guess you can say I’m a jack of all trades. However, I feel that I specialize most in UX/UI. The first agency I worked at was heavily focused on web design, and I’ve kept it up since then.
I think something that sets me apart from others is the diversity in my design work. I wouldn’t say that I have one specific style, and I think that’s special. Being comfortable designing in different styles, but still able to put my personal touch on it, is what I feel makes my work so unique.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As of right now, there are some plans in the making but it’s still too early to talk about! I am looking forward to finally stepping into an Art Director/Creative Director role and being able to fully take ideas and concepts into my own hands. Also, I’m looking forward to being able to lead a team of designers to help and watch them grow. I’m excited to finally take everything I’ve learned and experienced, working under other Creative Directors, and applying it in my own way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hsuper-designs.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hsxpr.designs/
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