We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anne Nguyen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anne below.

Alright, Anne thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I began my journey as a self-taught designer when I was around 13 or 14 years old. Initially, I taught myself how to write code for web design, and as I needed graphic assets for the websites I was creating as a hobby, I naturally transitioned into graphic design. At that time, I wasn’t aware that design could be a career—it was simply something I enjoyed and was passionate about.

It wasn’t until I was well into adulthood, working as a marketing coordinator in an office setting, that I realized graphic design could be a viable career path. Once I made this connection, I decided to pursue my passion more formally by enrolling in design school.

Knowing what I know now, I wish I had discovered earlier that design could be a professional career. It would have allowed me to focus my learning and development in a more structured way from the start. If I had pursued formal training sooner, it might have sped up my progress and refined my skills earlier in my journey.

The skills most essential to my growth as a designer included a combination of technical proficiency in design tools, creative thinking, and resilience. The ability to accept and incorporate critique was crucial—design school helped me develop a thick skin, an essential trait for both classroom environments and the professional design world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an Art Director and Designer, specializing in brand and marketing creative services. For branding projects, I set the foundation of a company’s identity by listening to and evaluating everything about the company—its products, services, culture, and more. I then develop a visual (and sometimes verbal) identity that reflects these aspects. Marketing design services come later. Once a company or organization has a clear identity, I build and evolve their brand through various marketing needs, not only to promote the company but also to reinforce their visual identity to the public by consistently implementing their brand system.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One important lesson I had to unlearn was the belief that more effort and time directly translate to better results. This belief was deeply ingrained in me from an early age. As a student, I was conditioned to think that putting in more hours meant better grades—whether that meant writing longer essays or spending extra time on projects. I believed that the more effort I put in, the better the outcome would be.

However, when I transitioned into design, I realized that success isn’t measured by the amount of time spent or the complexity of the process, but by the effectiveness and creativity of the solution. It’s about being concise and clear, embracing the idea that “less is more.” Also, I learned that sometimes the most impactful solutions can be produced quickly, while other times they might take weeks. Ultimately, the timeframe does not determine the success of a solution.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Creativity often involves a level of uncertainty and experimentation that can be difficult to grasp if you haven’t experienced it firsthand. A common misconception among non-creatives is that ideas come easily and that transitioning from ideation to execution is immediate. While this can sometimes be the case, it is generally not the norm. Creative work typically requires going through multiple drafts and revisions, which can feel like a never-ending process. Each iteration presents its own set of challenges and revelations. Additionally, there is the constant pressure to innovate and find new sources of inspiration, which can be mentally and emotionally exhausting.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ancreative.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/an_crtv
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/an-creative

Image Credits

STEEZC (Chris Ho)