Lily is turning her love of art into a thriving career.
Why did you decide to pursue your major?
Back in high school, I was always messing around with Photoshop and doing artsy photoshoots with my friends. I wanted to pursue a creative career of sorts that allowed me to dip my toes in different environments and work on unique projects. Participating in The BrandLab also opened me up to many different opportunities in advertising and marketing in the Twin Cities, and being exposed to a creative working environment inspired me to pursue my majors.
What has been your favorite part of your experience at the Hubbard School?
The opportunities that the school has connected me to! All of the faculty here are very well-connected, so definitely utilize their resources and hop on the internship and student group opportunities that they mention in class.
Which course or professor would you recommend for other students in your major?
I recommend having Mark Jenson as a professor, 100%. His passion for advertising and genuine care for his students is extraordinarily admirable. I’m very grateful for him as he’s helped push me out of my comfort zone over the years, shoot for different opportunities, and simply be an inspiring presence to be around. I can’t thank him enough for what he does for us!
What minors, internships, or activities are you pursuing outside of your major? How do these enhance your major and/or future career plans?
Currently, I freelance as a graphic designer and joined the NSAC team this year working on the creative team. I was recently inducted into AAF’s Most Promising Multicultural Student program, which has been an incredibly rewarding and valuable experience, and I recommend students to look into it. Previously, I was the creative director at Backpack Communications, and I also recommend looking into Backpack if you want experience working in an agency setting with real client work. Meeting professionals and honing my skills through Backpack also helped me find an internship at Colle McVoy last summer as an art director intern. Being able to create and design through many different opportunities and settings has helped me narrow down which fields I’d like to pursue in the future and build confidence in my work over time.
What advice do you have for future Hubbard School students?
Do things that spark your creativity, and be yourself! You would be surprised how your interests outside of school can relate to and guide the creative ideas that you can generate in your work. I’ve learned that employers in advertising are ultimately interested in how your unique walk of life inspires your approach to work, and what skillsets you can bring to the table that sets you apart from others. So don’t shy away from showing off some personality, embarking on a side quest or new hobby, and having a little laugh once in a while.
What is one aspect of your major that has surprised you?
I was surprised by the abundance of work opportunities that were available to me with my strategic communication major. I was also surprised by how strategic communication can go hand-in-hand with what I’m learning about through my graphic design major. My design classes help me sharpen my visual eye and problem-solve from a design standpoint, while my strategic communication classes teach me to conceptualize ideas and apply my design skills to produce creative executions while weaving in insights from current events and pop culture.
What do you wish you had known about your career path before now?
That advertising is all about who you know and relationship-building. Networking can be very daunting and it’s something that I’m still working on, but the more you put yourself out there, the more you will learn and the more opportunities you will ultimately land in.
