Reflecting
Growing up in a family full of smart scientists, veterinarians, construction workers, and math-savvy relatives, it was almost a given that my sister and I would follow in their footsteps. Today, I was asked in class when the moment was that I fell in love with art and design. It’s easy for me to think back to my elementary school years, sitting in math or science class completely bored and unenthusiastic. That was my first sign — I wasn’t good at math, and science felt dull.
My dad’s mom, known to me as Nana, is a weaver and artist. Growing up, we would visit her house, talk about weaving and art, play with chalk, and make new creations on the looms she always had lying around. I remember her constantly working on a new rug or towel, talking about who it was for. She created for others — for her community. That idea seeped into me over the years. Seeing her as this quiet yet magical force of nature, weaving tirelessly for others, was awe-inspiring.
She was the first person I talked to when I started thinking about choosing art as a career. I tiptoed around the idea for a while, thinking that if I combined art and science and became an art therapist, it would be a good in-between. But one day, I was chatting with my sister — either junior or senior year of high school — and she told me about her friend’s brother, who was studying graphic design. She suggested I look into it. It’s funny thinking back on that moment, because the minute the words came out of her mouth, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.
It’s now been over three years of pursuing that dream in my undergraduate degree, and I still love every day of it.
We’re currently digging into our personal stories for a branding project, trying to understand what makes each of us unique and stand out. Over the past year, my sister and I have been building a company called Wander. We’ve been experimenting — making zines, hosting podcasts, creating content, and photographing athletes in the outdoor space. Through this somewhat untraditional career path, I’ve really enjoyed seeing how design can give a voice to people who need it — especially in sports. Many of these lesser-known sports athletes exist in their own bubbles, and live without being super known, unless you’re already a dedicated fan. We’ve wanted to start telling more of these stories.
My sister made a good point the other day: when you look at the life of an athlete, everything in their schedule revolves around being one — who they spend time with, where they vacation, what they eat, their daily habits and routines. It’s an all-consuming lifestyle. We’re working to shed even a small bit of light on these incredible people.
Through unique forms of media — what some might call “dying arts” like film photography, Super 8, and in-depth interviews — along with more traditional styles like digital photography, we aim to share their stories. I believe design matters because it gives us the opportunity to help others’ online lives reflect the truth of their personal and professional selves.
