Member Spotlight: Jessy Miguel, Student IIDA


Name: Jessy Miguel
School: The Art Institute of Portland
Year in School: Senior
IIDA member since: 2014

Tell us a bit about your creative process: When it comes to my creative process, there are two important objects I have in hand – a pen and paper. Taking note and quickly captivating my ideas through a sketch allows me to manipulate and strategize further. I believe that no ideas are worthless because even the least attractive sketch is the one that ends up attracting me the most. A clean white piece of paper is endless in my eyes, it allows my hand to firmly grip on my pen, and pour out my creativity.

What does being a designer mean to your life?: Being a designer signifies my ability to listen, understand, solve problems, and test my creative confidence. Surrounded by a collaborative and creative community makes me feel proud of who I am as a designer and how it has positively impacted my life. As a designer, the daily challenges I face as an individual has influenced my way of thinking and the way I generate innovative ideas to solve the issues that affect my surroundings and me.

What project have you worked on that you are most proud of and why?: As of today, I am most proud of my Senior Thesis Studio because it has taught me to think beyond the spectrum. While it’s still in the process of completion, I’ve been able to realize that design isn’t always easy and that I’m completely okay with it. On top of that, I have also gained new relationships with my mentors and learned to be open-minded of their feedback and critique.

On a typical Saturday where can we find you?: I would love to say that you can find me exploring our great city and outdoors but in all honesty I am most likely to be found swamped with homework at a coffee shop, school, or my desk at home.

Why are you a member of IIDA?: I’m a member of IIDA because I want to represent the great community of designers we are. Furthermore, my student membership with IIDA introduced me to my internship, the opportunity to network with local designers, and the experience of attending worthwhile events such as the recent Design Crawl on the 27th of April.