Today we’d like to introduce you to Candice Cantu.
Candice, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always been creative at heart. My dad was also an artist and I remember watching him draw caricatures and doodle my favorite characters and celebrities. He taught me early on about color, composition, and perception, and I carried my love for art all throughout my childhood and school. Always drawing comics, making crafts to decorate my room or gift to friends, I was constantly finding ways to exercise and improve my creative skills and share them with others. It wasn’t until high school when I would stay up late finishing art pieces for contests rather than studying for my AP Calculus exams, that I realized I wanted to pursue some sort of creative career.
I was accepted to the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore with a partial scholarship but decided to stay in Houston to pursue a debt-free college education. While attending Lonestar for my Associate of Arts degree, my counselor informed me of a Graphic Design program at The University of Houston. I had never realized what Graphic Design was until I looked into all that the program had to offer, from web design, print work, illustration, photography, and more. After becoming core complete with my 2-year degree, I moved on to UH and 2 years after soaking up all of the knowledge I could with Book Arts, Silkscreen, Color Theory, and more, I was accepted into the rigorous 2 year Block program for Graphic Design.
It was a challenging but incredibly rewarding 2 years that ended with an amazing Senior show and a plethora of skills, as well as a strong sense of camaraderie between the 20 of us who had worked together in the program. My time at UH with other designers ignited my desire to pursue a life of creativity that I have continued to carry with me.
Has it been a smooth road?
The path to pursuing a creative career has definitely not been an easy one. Fresh out of college I had landed an Admin position in an energy company I had interned with, where I found myself drained of creativity and passion. I quickly began searching for another job and was hired as a designer for a restaurant, which was also short-lived as I quickly found that they did not fit with my work culture.
The company demanded so much dedication and extra time, that it was impossible to maintain my passion projects and freelance opportunities that made me happy. I returned back to part-time retail and used my free time to expand on my skills and find clients I was excited to work with. It was then that I realized that I truly wanted to work for myself and maintain my own business where my creative ideas could thrive.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Cantu Design story. Tell us more about the business.
Cantu Design is a personal business catered to those looking for a personal experience with making their dreams come true, whether it be an album design, a photo-shoot, business cards, logos, signage, and more. I listen to the clients’ visions and pay attention to what they are visually looking for, and make it come to life. I have designed single and album art for musicians, hand-lettered signs for events and photography, designed flyers to draw people to events, and more.
What I am most proud of, as a small/personal business is the variety of work I offer. I think it is important to always learn and grow in your craft, and for me, it means being versatile and flexible. My clients want something they are proud of, and I simply want to create and make it happen for them.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
With the nation thriving more and more on entrepreneurship, I believe that the demand for Design and other creative services will only increase, but from individuals who are unique and offer a different and personal perspective and experience.
We see all around us, artists and designers working for themselves, offering their various creative products. There will always be a need for great Design and I believe over time that individuals will be sought after for their distinctive style and approaches as opposed to larger Design studios or businesses.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://candicecantu.com
- Phone: 713-557-6457
- Email: candice_cantu@yahoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cantu_design/
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