Hey
There!
Nice to meet you! I'm Amy Nguyen (pronounced 'Win'), a Seattle based Freelance Graphic Designer.
The first question people typically ask me is "how did you become a graphic designer?" Well, for as long as I can remember I've always been good at drawing. My earliest memory of 'designing' something that was later published was when I won the fire department's poster contest. The poster was distributed and displayed to schools and fire stations in the district. My earliest memory of making money off of my designs was in grade school, I would always hustle other kids for their lunch money by selling them cartoon drawings of customizable "pets." The pets would start at a base price of $5, and if they wanted add-ons or for their pets to evolve, they would have to pay an additional $2-3. Somehow I never got caught.
I knew that I was good at drawing and had an eye for aesthetics, but I didn't actually know what career path I would choose. In high school, I designed t-shirts for various clubs and took design classes because I enjoyed them. I even designed my own sweatshirts and sold them via Tumblr to fund my high school travels. I guess those events somehow foreshadowed my future. I would later quit my marketing job at a tech start-up to do graphic design (my side hustle at the time) full-time and on my terms!
I graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in Communications & Sociology.
Senior year of college, I was recruited by Shiftboard to be their Marketing Communications Specialist. Under special terms, I would have a legitimate title and be a part of the Marketing team while working in between and after my classes. Shiftboard saw the versatility of my skills. I was learning marketing through working and previous internships, I had analytical skills from my com/soc background, and I knew how to design and had taught myself the adobe suite. After a year and a half, I quit my job to pursue my side hustle which has led me to where I am now!
What I'm currently up to...
When I'm not designing for clients, I'm creating content on Instagram and Youtube and also run my own blog! My personal content documents my life in the latest outfits, beauty trends, and lifestyle choices. I don't exactly have co-workers, so I enjoy sharing my everyday life and connecting with my online followers! Instagram, youtube, and blogging also act as a creative outlet for me. I'm able to work on skills like video editing, photo editing, and writing. On my blog, you'll find the latest fashion trends, beauty advice, and travel inspiration plus everything in between!
Wow... you're still reading this and want to know even more about me?
I'm not a huge fan of doing nature-y things like camping, but I do have a great appreciation for nature and conservation. I'm a huge advocate for sustainable and eco-friendly goods. I constantly find myself researching ways to reduce my carbon footprint whether it's being smarter about what materials I wear, how I shop, or trying to solve single-use plastic problems. Did you know that most beauty product packaging is not recyclable? And that many companies are still testing on animals? Or that many fabrics that we wear can be harmful to our bodies? Those are the things that keep me up at night.
I have three cats. It's always a little embarrassing to stay out loud. But I promise I'm not a crazy cat lady! I just love animals and would never turn down an animal in need.
If I had the patience to go through med school and wouldn't get nauseous at the sight of blood... I'd probably be a veterinarian or work at a zoo.
