Today we’d like to introduce you to Bereniz Velazquez.
Hi Bereniz, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
This journey has defiantly not been an easy one. I am currently in my senior year as a Graphic Design student at the University of Houston. I’ve always been a very creative person, thanks to my father whom used to be a muralist and tattoo artist, seeing him created amazing work was something I’ve always carried with me and remember the most from my childhood. Well, that was only my childhood, because after 10 years of age, it’s only been my mom and me. My mom is also my father, and she plays both roles very well, haha. With that being said, that is when my love for art started, and it was always just art that I was drawn to never really had my headset into a specific field or anything. Until I was introduced to graphic design through my cousin, she was going to school of that when I was around 14 years old, and just seeing how much and how powerful a designer’s work can be in the world made me fall in love with it.
My mom always taught me to stand up for myself, and always work hard, there is no excuses for not achieving the goals I set for myself. That has stuck with me throughout my whole life, and I have also applied it as much as I can. My mother being a single mother isn’t easy, so as soon as I turned 17 immediately got a job and ever since I’ve been working and going to school. It isn’t easy, its stressful, overwhelming and I have my days where I wanted to give up, thank you to my mother, and my grandparents who also inspired me so much, I keep going. As I kept working my butt off for years, in 2020 when covid hit and Houston went on lockdown, just like many other Houstonians me and my mother lost our jobs. I’ve never been able to stay still, I always have to keep going and keep my brain going, and as I saw me and my mother struggling financially during covid that’s when I decided it was time for a change. I started my own Design firm just from the comfort of my home. It might seem like a crazy idea opening a business during a pandemic. Not to my mom and me though, she supported me and told me to give it all I got and make it happened, so I did. Two years later I went from 3 clients to 10+ clients, and it’s only going to keep growing. I might not be making a million dollars, but everyone starts somewhere and giving up isn’t going to bring me to the top, my goal is to retire my mother one day. She who has worked so hard and thanks others I am the women I am today, thank you will never be enough.
Having my small business has also made me just love more what I do, help people, and seeing a smile on their face when bringing their visions to life. Like I said earlier, being a full time student having a small business and still having my actual design job is not easy whatsoever. There is good days and bad days, sometimes more bad days than good. But I always tell myself and my Pearce, “Anything is possible if you put your mind to it, there really sent excuse for something, is either you want to do it or you don’t”. Life itself gets in the way of goals sometimes as well, but you can let that stop you, if you believe in yourself anything and everything is possible. Now you won’t see the change in a day, but patience is key and faith to know that what you envision for yourself will come to you sooner or later.
I want to be a designer whom people remember, whom people trust and connect with. Slowly, I can say I’m building myself that domain, and even when reach that point I won’t stop I will only keep going. Because learning never stops and there is always room for improvement with yourself and the design field.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Graphic Designer whom Specializes in Branding, Hospitality Design, Packaging, and Interactive/Experimental Design.
I can defiantly say I am most proud of the growth I’ve made since I first started as a graphic designer and a business owner. Also being chosen by my as Vice President of the UH graphic design program is an honor.
What I would say sets me apart from others is the way I approach design and my process of helping a client get from point A to point B. Design is something that I always like to connect with, when I’m working on a project I have a process of doing my research, understanding what meaning there is, placing myself in the viewer’s point of view, and understanding what the goal is. That has always helped me create amazing and successful identities, logos, etc. for my clients and school. Of course, I wouldn’t be able to also get to where I need to if it wasn’t for my teachers and Pearce, taking their critique and helping me see things differently always assist me with adjusting my route if needed.
Contact Info:
- Website: bereniztnvelazquez.wixsite.com/mysite
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallstudio.htx/
Suggest a Story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
