We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bereniz Velazquez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Bereniz, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Most of the time when I tell someone I am a graphic designer they often think I just draw, or paint stuff an do little doodle crafts. But it is nothing near that, graphic design takes dedication, understanding, a lot a lot of hours and no sleep! this is just a little bit of what we do. Understanding the fundamentals of graphic design is a must, color theory, typography, hierarchy, and craft. Craft always has to be immaculate and perfected, details are important to elevate the design. Once you master the fundamentals, I believe graphic design keep evolving each time more and more, with that being said learning what I do is a learning experience that never ends. you learn the basics, experimentation and more during you school. Once you step foot in the real world, you learn the business side of graphic design, you get to learn the client, and the market. Lastly as you keep going through your career, wether you open your own studio, or building up your career at a firm, you are still learning. Your skill sets start shrinking as the years pass, keeping up with trends is something graphic designers have to stay consistent with. Which basically keeps a graphic designer always in school, learning, growing skills, expanding their knowledge to make sure we are up to beat with what the public/market needs. I believe all this just said though is mostly what comes with being a graphic designer. The creativity, the drive, and the eye to see the potential in design has to be there. As well as, being a tough cookie with criticism, design will always be criticized, you will have people that love what you do, people that dat get it, people that don’t care, or people that just don’t like your style at all. But that is okay! and being able to move on from bad criticism has to be ideal to be able to move on and face the individuals that don’t accept what you do.

If I knew what I know now a couple years ago, I believe I would have expanded my skills and my eye for design a bit faster. Back in my day there wasn’t many resources to learn graphic design or even the fundamentals. After graduating collage I have noticed that a lot of collage and early collage are offering courses fro this field, and that is amazing because you start seeing advanced young designers entering the graphic design programs, and that comes with a lot of excitement and new ideas. I also believe that having that guidance through the process of becoming a graphic designer is a plus, because they you can get a glimpse of what the real world and process is through learning this field.

I don’t think there was any obstacles that kept me from learning more, because if there is anything I wanted to learn or be “better” at. I take the initiative to learn it myself or keep going through a trial and error over and over again until I perfect it. You know, being a graphic designer is basically being multidisciplinary you are everything. Designer, Architect, Copy Writer, Painter, Sculpture and more. Which is the reason why this career keeps me going and so excited, there is so many faces to it, it never really gets boring.

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 Bereniz Velazquez, a Houston-born Mexican American multidisciplinary Graphic Designer with expertise in advertising and marketing. Graduate from University of Houston, her process includes expressive typography and experimental design. She focuses on brand identity, packaging design, and motion graphics. Through these mediums, they push the boundaries and standards of design today. They believe that design should be impactful, intelligent, and inclusive. In their free time, they love to workout, try new food, and build upon their personal graphic design business.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I believe the best way to support creatives, is by sharing their art, wether is word of mouth or social media. Also, by going it the attention it needs, there is so much amazing design, art, sculptures out there an I feel like they are mostly overseen or forgotten about. But what people don’t know is that, that Is how creatives become known by being in the public eye.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

resources, I wish I knew about AIGA at an earlier time in my career progress. They defiantly introduce you to it while in school, but I was not aware of how big it was until I actually joined. I also believe that there isn’t enough creative resources, to meet new people, or just even connect aside from AIGA. The creative world seems so small, even though I know it’s big, and connecting is what helps each creative thrive in this field.

Contact Info:

• Website: berenizvelazquez.com
• Instagram: smallstudio.htx
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bereniz-velazquez-78666b169/