Priscilla Jimenez

Graphic Design

7th Term

In what ways has Art Center helped you grow as a designer?
I have learned about the power that designers can have. We can change the world with the click of a mouse or a tap of a Wacom pen—it's rather extraordinary and quite beautiful. I find myself growing every term, and learning so many quirky things in the research phases of my projects has added value to my everyday life.

What is the most valuable lesson you've learned so far at Art Center?
To make an impact. Plain and simple. Don't settle for mediocre—go out there and really make a difference.

Where do you find inspiration?
Riding a bicycle, taking public transit and being Latin. When you ride a bike, you see things more clearly than you do when you're in a car. You notice a billboard or street art, and because you're on a bike you can stop, look, take pictures and go with ease. It's freedom. When it comes to design, having freedom is key to creating truly innovative work. Taking public transportation has opened my eyes to L.A. culture. L.A. culture can be weird, and I love it! You sit next to so many interesting people, and often you'll leave with a great story from someone that can serve as inspiration for design. And of course, being Latina—there is so much that comes with being Mexican that is inspirational. My family's history is fascinating; it is filled with interesting stories about my European and indigenous ancestors. I think being Latina has led me to pursue a career path that typically doesn't have that many like me in it. It's an inspiration to be successful, but also to inspire other Latinas to pursue creative careers.

Describe a memorable project you have worked on at Art Center and the creative process involved.
My most memorable project is a piece of music that I wrote for a friend who was serving a term in Iraq. He gave me field recordings made with his cheap personal recorder and showed me some pretty gruesome images he had taken with a cheap point-and-shoot camera. Let me tell you—what we see in the news is nothing compared to those cheap, five megapixel photos and recordings that he sent me. They were raw and honest. I took his recordings and processed them, then wrote a very climactic song that ended with emotional strings and hard drums. It was one of the best pieces of work that I have ever created. Afterwards, I sent him a copy and he and his team in Iraq listened to it. He wrote back saying that everyone thought the song was great, powerful and true to what was going on in Iraq.

What has been your favorite class or project while at Art Center?
Tyrone Drake's Typography 4: Voice. I learned so much about vernacular and the power of words, and how to use them in conjunction with bold, meaningful typography. We did a project relating to Hurricane Katrina and the problem was how to bring back awareness. It was a great experience and that project made a huge emotional impact on me.

What's the most challenging aspect of studying design?
The research phase. Not because I don't like it-I actually love that phase in the design process—but because it's the most important step. If I don't nail the research then, the design will suffer immensely.

Jimenez graduated from Art Center in 2009.