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by Christine Nenadovic
[ More Job Q&As ]
In 1992, Mayra Morrison, who is from Caracas, Venezuela, moved with her family to New York City. A student at the time, Morrison continued her studies at Parsons School of Design, eventually earning a B.F.A. in communication design. Ever since, she has had what anyone would consider an exciting and active career -- and life. She worked at Paper Magazine and Internet start-up iVillage.com, and she's now a graphic designer at advertising agency Berenter, Greenhouse & Webster. What's more, she co-founded a magazine for the Latin market, Mia, and traveled to India for a year, living among exiled Tibetans 11 hours north of Delhi. Morrison, 28, says you should never "shut the doors" on yourself: "Always believe you can do it."
Monster.com: How did you end up in the United States?
Mayra Morrison: In 1992, I was living in Spain for a year, and when I came back my whole family came over (to New York City), and I continued my studies at Parsons School of Design as a graphic designer. Two and a half years later I graduated, and I immediately started to work for Socio X, a design studio. I was also working for Paper Magazine. About six months later, I became the associate art director of Paper magazine. It was a really good year for us at the design studio, too; we designed for a number of really great clients, and won awards. Then we were hired to do a Web site for a medical company -- the Web site boom was starting to begin -- and I shifted to a company called iVillage, when they were just starting out. The Web and new media was happening, and we were learning something new every day. I did that for about a year and a half, and then I decided to take a year off -- this was in 1997 -- and I went to India.
Mc: What did you do in India?
MM: In India, I lived where the Tibetans live in exile, and I worked doing handmade paper and designing cards for them to sell on the street. I taught them how to book-bind, and we were doing handmade paper in a recycling center, working with recently arrived refugees and some refugees who had addiction problems. That was a great experience for one year.
Mc: What did you do when you came back to New York?
MM: I worked for Interactive Bureau, doing some freelance projects, and then I ended up here, which is Berenter, Greenhouse & Webster. All this time I worked freelance, too -- it's kind of like I have my own little company -- but sometimes it's easier when I don't have to be jumping around. I like to get a good feeling of the people where I work -- that part is really important to me. I've been here for a year. They're an advertising agency, with a small design studio. That's really happening right now - advertising that's really well designed. Out of coincidence, I've fallen into places that are "happening," in terms of what's big in design. I've worked in a media company, doing Web sites. I've worked in a design studio. I've worked in a magazine. And now in an advertising agency. Also, as soon as I left Paper, I co-founded a magazine for a Latin market, which is called Mia magazine. That was also incredible, because when we launched our first issue, other Latin magazines came out, like Latina. So it's been really great to have that experience. I did the magazine for six months, and then I left for India, but the magazine is still running.
Mc: You've worked in a lot of different situations. How do you handle it?
MM: Each job, as small as it is, you've got to find challenging. A good attitude gets you everywhere. Even though, sometimes, people don't know how qualified I am, they hire me, and then immediately it just gets to the point where they give me a better position and more responsibility. With a good attitude, you can get anywhere. I also think that coming from a Latin country, where things are so messy, and you have to go through a lot more steps than here to get things done, makes it easier. You come here, and things are just a little bit more organized. When you're here, you fit in, and then you're capable of doing more work.
Mc: Did you feel like you "fit in" right away?
MM: In New York, everyone fits in. That's something that I really love about this place. It's just about your work, and who you are, not about your background or anything. Anyone can fit in in New York, as long as you have that personality.
Mc: How much of a challenge was your transition to the U.S.?
MM: I lived in Florida when I was little, for seven years. I knew English, and then in Venezuela I went to a bilingual school. I think that that's a big plus. What can I say? As I told you, three years ago I grabbed a backpack and went to India without knowing anyone there. I'm that type of person. I love coming to a city. After two weeks here, I was using the subway and all that.
Mc: Did being a student help, too?
MM: It's different when you're a student. It's very different than if you come here looking for a job. As a student, you immediately have people your same age. You don't have the challenge of work. It's not competitive; in art school, it's really about the art that's coming out of you. The pace of life is much simpler.
Mc: What advice do you have for someone thinking of coming to the U.S.?
MM: Start off with whatever you can, no matter how little the job is, and just work yourself up. That's the most important thing. Talk to people a lot. Connections help you out a lot. And be patient. Timing is really important. Never shut the doors on yourself. Always believe you can do it.