Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadia Tran
Hi Nadia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Originally from Vietnam, I came to the US to pursue a BFA in Graphic Design. I quickly fell in love with the profession, the studio practice, and fellow designers that I get to work with. Afterwards, I decided to pursue a MS in Project Management, as I wanted to bridge the gap between the two areas, and it is also a passion of mine.
With the combination of two fields, I am currently working as a project manager and designer for Formation, a signage, wayfinding and environmental graphic design (EGD) studio in town. I am able to use my skillsets to design and manage projects for the studio, which is very rewarding.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s definitely not been a smooth road. Because I am not a US citizen, I struggle through the immigration process from a student visa, work permit, to a work visa. The companies that I have worked at were very gracious and helped sponsor my visas. However, sometimes it’s a lottery process with the government, or sometimes there’s just tons of paperwork and hoops to jump through. However, I am currently very happy at my position.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a graphic designer specializing in environmental graphic design. I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of teams that worked on the Houston Zoo’s South America Pantanal project, work for the Houston Children’s Museum and Houston Health Museum. Currently, I’m working in signage, wayfinding and EGD for cultural as well as healthcare clients.
I’m most proud of my ability to balance and work well within a team. I appreciate the diverse creative minds that I get to work with, and seek to bring every thought to the table. What sets me apart from others is probably my love for project management for creative team. Being able to allow creatives to do research and have fun designing, without being stressed out about deadlines, set realistic timeline, and bringing a project to success is my ultimate goal.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
For sure. I have been pretty active in that area, and I think it’s very important.
Since school, I have been a part of AIGA, and coming out to their events to meet other creatives and studio representatives in town taught me a lot. I was also a part of AAF and attending their studio tours allowed me to see how the field works in real life.
Ever since graduation, I focused more on SEGD. I’ve been coming out to attend conferences in whichever specialization I was in (Awwwards conference for UX/UI, AIGA, SEGD, and BrandNew conferences). Those are great learning opportunity and everytime I came out, I was able to learn more and make more connections.
Networking is so important. Making great connections help you advance in the field. I’d recommend checking your local organization for mentoring opportunity, suggesting your company to send you to conferences, or simply just attending a social event. You’ll be surprised at how people are so willing to help, as long as you ask.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nadiatran.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/nadia.design95
Image Credits
All photos credit: Nadia Tran
Photo with large Encounter wall covering: Photo credit to Linh Hoang
