I embarked on a 50-mile journey from Claremont to Long Beach to pursue my education at CSULB. My time at the university holds a special place in my heart. It was a period of profound personal development during which I let go of my naivete about the world and matured in many ways.
While I was in school, I had to work to make ends meet. Balancing work with a full academic load was challenging, but I managed to make it work. I initially majored in Interior Design in college. Design has always come naturally to me, almost like breathing. I don't have to think about it; it's just there.
I enrolled in the interior design program at CSULB, which was known for its rigorous curriculum. I was fascinated by the idea of designing the perfect home, and I eagerly immersed myself in classes such as architectural drawing, color theory, and the history of art and architecture. This experience gave me a new perspective and a deep appreciation for design from around the world. I developed a love for The Bauhaus and its contemporaries, including artists like Mies Van Der Rohe, Joseph Albers, Paul Klee, Marcel Breuer, Wassily Kandinsky, Gertrude Arndt, and Buckminster Fuller. Their work continues to inspire me today, and I often incorporate their concepts of form, function, and clean lines into my own designs.
While I was studying interior design, I was determined to work in the field and sought out a job. I landed a position at Interstate Restaurant Supply in Los Angeles, working in the interior design library. I was hired by the sole interior designer at Interstate who was overwhelmed with work. Initially, I was responsible for maintaining the large library that housed all the samples of carpet, flooring, paint, etc., but I quickly started creating design boards for projects and eventually got involved in actual interior design. During my time at Interstate, I had the opportunity to design and specify a yogurt shop and an entire restaurant. As an interior design student at CSULB, I was gaining real-world experience in my major at just 19 years of age.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Interstate Restaurant Supply, but I came to the stark realization that I did not find satisfaction in designing for clients as an interior designer. Despite producing exceptional designs, the client consistently had the final say and would implement last-minute changes, frequently resulting in the project veering off course from the original plan. In the design industry, it becomes abundantly clear that the client's perspective always prevails.