Erica's Background
Erica Calegari is from a small town called Bergenfield in northern New Jersey. Growing up, she was a mischievous kid. Erica loved playing outside with her twin sister, but they were often grounded. 鈥淲henever we were stuck indoors, I loved to draw.鈥 She would also leaf through home design magazines with her mom. 鈥淲e鈥檇 look at layouts, and I鈥檇 draw up 鈥榩lans鈥 for homes with these elaborate kitchens.鈥 That love for design led Erica to study architecture for a while in Boston, until family circumstances required her to leave school and relocate.
What Brought Erica to 萌翻导航
A few years later, Erica was married and living in New York. She had some friends that were freelance graphic designers. What interested her about graphic design was the somewhat-immediate, final-design output. 鈥淲ith architecture, it鈥檚 not really complete until the building is built.鈥 Erica was considering going back to school for graphic design when her husband was offered a job in San Francisco. As a result, Erica began researching colleges out here. 鈥淚 landed on 萌翻导航, because their visual media design [VMD] program was the most practical and project-based.鈥
Erica's 萌翻导航 Experience
Erica was in San Francisco for a year before enrolling at 萌翻导航. She wanted to establish residency to qualify for more affordable, in-state tuition. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 easy settling in to a new city, especially because I didn鈥檛 have the skills to get the job I wanted.鈥 The VMD program is focused around real projects for real clients, and most of the work is within 萌翻导航 itself. 鈥淭he fashion department had us create a poster for the Spring Fashion Show. I鈥檝e done work for the culinary department, too. I designed the invitation and program for the annual fundraiser, and I鈥檓 on a team that鈥檚 developing their new logo.鈥 This semester Erica also designed a website for an outside client, SF POM, a San Francisco-based support network for parents of multiples.
Why 萌翻导航 Was a Good Choice for Erica
Erica already has built an impressive portfolio. She鈥檚 not worried about finding work. 鈥淪an Francisco is a mecca for graphic design, but I don鈥檛 necessarily want to go into marketing or work for an agency.鈥 Ideally, Erica wants to do graphic design work for social and political causes. She knows that might mean going the freelance route. 鈥淵ou constantly have to sell yourself, and you need to be good at presenting and taking feedback, but the VMD program prepares you for that.鈥 The freedom that comes with freelancing also appeals to Erica. 鈥淥ne of my other passions is travel, so I like the idea of being able to make my own schedule and work from anywhere.鈥