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Keep on Creating and Where It'll Take You
23 Plays1 month ago
In this episode of The Creative Milestone, we sit down with illustrator and designer Sabrina Noelle to talk about the experiences that shaped her creative voice—from studying abroad in Spain to launching heartfelt projects. Sabrina shares how staying true to herself—rather than chasing social media—has guided her work and career.
We explore the value of passion projects, the freedom that comes from creative independence, and how personal growth and artistic integrity can go hand in hand.
Follow our guest below!
https://www.sabrinanoelle.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hisabrinanoelle/
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Transcript
Introduction to The Creative Milestone Podcast
00:00:04
Speaker
Hello everybody and welcome to The Creative Milestone, the podcast where we learn from the career milestones of creative designers, illustrators, and entrepreneurs. I'm your host, Matthew Chakrow.
Meet Sabrina Noel, Graphic Designer at Disney
00:00:15
Speaker
Today, we are speaking to graphic designer s Sabrina Noel, who happens to also be ah very near and dear friend to me.
00:00:22
Speaker
I first met her at a student event in 2023 and we've kept in touch since. In those two years since I met her, she's made huge leaps in her career and is currently a graphic designer at the Walt Disney Company.
00:00:35
Speaker
Sabrina, do you mind introducing yourself? Yeah, of course. um Hi, I'm so happy to be here, my old friend. oh um But yeah, I'm Sabrina, I'm graphic designer.
00:00:48
Speaker
um i specialize in illustration. And yeah, happy to happy to be hanging.
Sabrina's Creative Journey Begins
00:00:54
Speaker
Yeah, so take me and the listeners kind of through your design journey. What got you started in graphic design and illustration?
00:01:03
Speaker
Yeah, um my parents are very creative people um in different ways. Like my dad was a web designer for a really long time. And then my mom sews like she is really into fabric and she makes like all these like really amazing pillows and aprons that she always has.
00:01:21
Speaker
And, um and so like in high school, I did like one graphic design class. Like, I think that was it. Like, I didn't really take like any art classes all throughout high school. I wish I did.
00:01:32
Speaker
But I took like a solid one graphic design class, like freshman year, and I really liked it. And then like, I really was just like, Not sure like what I wanted to do with my
College and Pandemic Challenges
00:01:44
Speaker
life. And then so I did community college right after high school, which I love so much. Shout out to community college.
00:01:51
Speaker
And um i did a bunch of different majors. Like within the two years I was there, I was a journalism major at one point. I was a comms major. i was a marketing major because everybody told me they were like, don't do art, do marketing.
00:02:06
Speaker
And then like do art on the side, like secret, secret, but don't do art. And I was like, okay. And then so I did marketing and the straw that broke the camel's back for me was like business accounting. And I was like, I can't do this.
00:02:23
Speaker
Yeah, no, I know. It's like, And so my like last semester of community college, I was like, okay, I'm just going to do art because I want to. And then I crammed everything that I needed to transfer in my last semester and then transferred Cal State Fullerton.
00:02:41
Speaker
Shout out to Cal State Fullerton. And, um, and it was great. I loved Cal State Fullerton. I went during COVID, which was a whole thing, but um, yeah,
00:02:52
Speaker
But it was great. I got to do a lot of really cool projects in high school that I think are like, or in high school, in college, which I think still like are some of people's favorite portfolio projects of mine. Like when they look at it, like it's like, oh, your professional work? No, no. I really like this one thing from college. And i'm like, oh, man, okay. But yeah.
00:03:14
Speaker
Like, I don't know, like, I did this big 30 day project. And it was um all these tortilla chip bag designs. That was like a whole class I took in college. um Where like that professor, she really honed in on the idea of a 30 day project and making something every day for 30 um And mine was tortilla chip bags. I think I wanted to what I want to do.
00:03:36
Speaker
I wanted to do something else. And somebody had that same idea. And I panicked. And then I picked tortilla chip bags. But I'm glad. Because that was a good project. um And yeah. When did I graduate? It's been a while.
00:03:50
Speaker
I think I graduated. graduated at the end. Like fall 2021. But walked in 2022. So.
Studying Abroad Influences
00:03:56
Speaker
walked in twenty twenty two so so When you joined Cal State Fullerton, were you in a strictly online capacity the whole time?
00:04:06
Speaker
No. So I was there for one semester, solidly uninterrupted one semester. And then I got really, really lucky. I got to do study abroad for a month 2020. I did Spain the month of January 2020.
00:04:18
Speaker
came for the month of january in twenty twenty we came back for like When did we come back? We came back like February sometime and we were back for like, I don't know how long. And then they were like, yeah go home. And then, yeah, but we were all like in our like little like WhatsApp group chat. We were like, oh my God.
00:04:38
Speaker
Like we were so lucky. Like people, some people went to Italy during that trip. Like they were like, I think I had it. Like it was crazy. But But I know we got like super lucky because I had people who or I heard people were doing like the semester there and they got stuck and all this stuff. So like it all worked out really well for like that group.
00:04:57
Speaker
But yeah, one semester and it was like all like it was still GE. Like it was like the last few GEs that I had to wrap up. And then the semester, the first COVID semester was like my like 1A like actual major classes. And then the rest of it was online. Did you take any design classes in Spain?
00:05:15
Speaker
No, that was just like humanities. That was like for the experience, but it was really, really cool. Did that
Internship Experience During COVID
00:05:21
Speaker
study or abroad program at all, like impact how you view design kind of staying in a foreign country for like a long period of time?
00:05:28
Speaker
It really did. Like they have so many incredible museums in Spain and like the big, like last many-ness and like all the big like art history ones, like they're all there. So it was really, really cool to get to see them just like living Spain.
00:05:40
Speaker
in Spain. I think a lot of like my art style comes from more like Mexican style, specifically probably like Mexican ceramics, like in all the flowers that they use and like the flourishes.
00:05:51
Speaker
But Spain still, it was really exciting to be able to be exposed to like that culture versus Mexican culture, for sure. Kind of jumping out of study abroad, jumping past the pandemic and graduating, you were really only there for like one semester and then by you got to figure it out on your own. What was that like?
00:06:10
Speaker
It was kind of spooky. For my college, when they had you do like your getting ready to go out into the world classes, one of them was an internship. And so at the time, my dad had lost his job due to COVID. And my mom, and he was app applying everywhere and he wasn't getting anything.
00:06:28
Speaker
And so for like that whole year and then my mom, that's really what the catalyst was for her to start her small business. She started making masks and then just it kind of snowballed from there. And so I kind of pretty pleased my college and I said, can my internship be with my mom's small business? It's out of my house and it's not like necessarily an established like design business, but I'll be doing design work and work.
00:06:55
Speaker
like low key, we need it. Like, it's not like it would be really great, like for my family, for my mom, like if I could do this. And they were super cool about it. And they were like, okay, sure. So that was really my only internship in college.
00:07:08
Speaker
And so it was really scary. But it was also a really cool experience. Like I did like design work for her website, which I had never done before. i did like all of her social media.
00:07:19
Speaker
stuff, which was a cool experience. And yeah, it wasn't I did not feel prepared. At all. But I feel like nobody feels prepared like out of college, like especially when it ends.
00:07:32
Speaker
Like i like I ended fall semester and then I had like a month or a month. I had a semester where I wasn't doing any college and then I walked. And so I really felt really removed from like that experience.
00:07:46
Speaker
But yeah, we made it out. and Yeah. How did you recognize that you can use your skills to kind of help your mom? Was that kind of a no brainer for you? Yeah, it was honestly like bred out of necessity. Like she just needed help. And so she needed manpower. Like I was cutting and I was sewing and I was putting things together like most of the time. But yeah, trying to establish like her business quickly and like have like an income stream for our family was like kind of the main thing. So like me and my dad were doing the website.
00:08:15
Speaker
And just like making all of these graphics and my like thought process was like, how do I make this look as like professional? And like, we are a real business as possible. oh So yeah, just pumping out content and like trying to figure out like reels and like all that stuff.
00:08:32
Speaker
Yeah. How has that impacted how you kind of produce your own artwork? Has that changed maybe anything like professionally or personally in how you produce your work? I think,
Art Versus Social Media Expectations
00:08:42
Speaker
well, it totally did. My biggest thing, I think that I still like hold with me and which I still need to like take advice from this because it's not something I follow all the time, but it's always better to just finish it, to just have it be done and post it than to spend so long on it and you end up hating it and you never post it ever. Like, I think that was probably like
00:09:05
Speaker
the biggest takeaway is that like on so many things, I would spend so much time like trying to curate everything to be perfect, like for the grid, like it all had to be beautiful. And it all had to be, you know, the cover photo had to look a certain way. And at one point, it just got to the like stage where I was like,
00:09:22
Speaker
this can't, like, it's not productive to act this way. I think, yeah, to just, to just create what you're going to create. And if you want to share it with the world, share it with the world as soon as you're done, as soon as you're okay with it, you know?
00:09:39
Speaker
So okay enough with it to where you don't feel like paralyzed of it not being perfect. Mm hmm. What, what do you then prioritize? What's what are those key factors that you look for in your own work?
00:09:53
Speaker
Oh, man, that's a really good question. I think, I think, honestly, like there are so many, there's so many different art styles, there are so many different ways that people create things.
00:10:05
Speaker
I think when you look at somebody and somebody else's work in their style, And there can be such a, oh my God, like that looks amazing. My thing looks nothing like that. Like, is my thing bad?
00:10:16
Speaker
But I think what I prioritize most when I look for mine is do I like it? Like if I like it and it makes me happy, that's enough for me. I think it's so hard to be on social media, period. It's such an inspirational place, but it's so hard to be flooded with all of these incredibly talented people that are doing so many different things.
00:10:34
Speaker
And when your stuff looks nothing like theirs and it's like, oh, it must be terrible. but But I think as long as you like it and you stand behind what you're making, I think that's the most important thing.
00:10:46
Speaker
It's so interesting to hear you talk about, you know, everyone compares each other on social media. That's true. But to me, you've always just had such a standout style that I've always loved ever since I saw it two years ago now in 2023.
00:10:59
Speaker
And I love that you leaned more into that as opposed to maybe like trying to appease an algorithm not or maybe you are and I'm not noticing. But does social media and that outlook on it impact your work and what you post?
00:11:13
Speaker
At this point, no. I think like right now, like I'm in like a nine to five corporate job. like I'm very grateful to like feel solid in like the moment where I'm at with like my career whatever.
00:11:25
Speaker
And so I think like right now, like for social media, it's just about trying to make things for myself and trying to give myself accountability in making things for myself. And I think posting helps.
00:11:37
Speaker
Yeah, the algorithm, I don't know. I don't know the is. I don't know what it I don't know how it works or what it wants. So I think like at this point, it's just like, you know, just putting it out there. And I think for a lot of people, it happens.
00:11:51
Speaker
Like when you put it out there, like, you know, the right people see it and then like, you know, the world is happy for you. And I think that's a really cool, special thing. Yeah. But. I also think like it's a cool place to point to and to say like, yeah, like I don't have like a lot of followers. Like I don't have like cool captions and I don't put hashtags on anything, but look at what I did in this collection of my work. I think, I think it's a neat, like,
00:12:16
Speaker
little baby portfolio that's also really accessible. I feel like everybody, everybody, but I feel like a lot of people, especially like in this industry has Instagram. So like, it's an easier place to maybe say like, Oh, here, like, let me find my business card and give you my link to my portfolio. If you can just say, Oh, look at my Instagram.
00:12:34
Speaker
And then that's all your work there. So when I am locked into a corporate job, 40 hours a week dedicating to design, dedicating myself to art, I don't really feel the necessity to post on social media. And that is super nice. I'm just echoing what Sabrina is saying here. But let's say you didn't have that job.
00:12:52
Speaker
Would you be posting so much more? oh yeah. Way more. Because, yeah, I feel like when i was unemployed, so right after college, I had an internship for a year.
00:13:06
Speaker
And after it was over, I was unemployed for a solid six months before I found anything else and started my next job. And that time I was cranking stuff out.
00:13:16
Speaker
I was, I was like making reels. I was doing all this stuff, designing like crazy because i felt like I had to, like, again, i don't have a lot of followers, but like to try to, I don't know, have something to say, like, I'm doing something I'm asking. Actively designing, even though I don't necessarily have a job, like, please look at what I'm doing. So maybe somebody out there in the world will see it and be like, yay, here's a job or something, you know?
00:13:42
Speaker
But yeah, I saw something recently on social media where it was like, people don't burn out by making art. They burn out by making content, which I think is so true. And I think there's a huge difference and like just in like making little art for yourself, but also like pumping out content. But it's so hard
Navigating Unemployment Creatively
00:13:59
Speaker
because it's like necessary for a lot of people for freelance designers, and especially for digital art, like when so much of your work is like, it's necessary to be seen by the world by somebody.
00:14:09
Speaker
Yeah, how did that six months stint act looking for a job? And if that didn't really affect looking for a job? How did that affect you? Yeah, it was tough. i think like I always tell people like whenever like people ask me like, oh, I'm unemployed, like what should I be doing like to look for a job and like I give whatever advice but I always say really take advantage of your time being unemployed because that's when you get to make whenever you want. Like when you're in whatever job that you have, you're creating for somebody else's idea and somebody else's, you know, plan and somebody else's thing. And when you're unemployed and you're making stuff, it's just for you and for whatever agenda that you have.
00:14:48
Speaker
But I think it's a really, really beneficial time, especially for your portfolio. And so yeah, make content, make stuff for Instagram and build like your work. I did one of my favorite projects ever when I was unemployed. While i was in the internship role, it took me away from like helping my mom with her small business stuff. And when I was unemployed, we got to work on a project that was something that we'd wanted to do for a long time that I just never had the time to sit down and do and we made these really cute original design dolls. And it was awesome because when you do stuff
00:15:22
Speaker
for yourself and you don't have the support or resources of like a huge company you do everything so I designed the fabric I had the relationship with the fabric manufacturer and like I did all the product photography I made all the content for social media like it was a really really awesome project and it's like it's the one that's at the top of my portfolio right now Yeah, I mean, it's a great project. It is so, so, so adorable.
00:15:48
Speaker
As someone that loves making like adorable illustrations, I thought that at least when I saw it, that I was like, oh, it's so so so, so, so, so cool. But again, you kind of touch on when you're not doing work, find a project to work on. And you found a project, again, working with your mom on nice costas besties, right?
00:16:07
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. yeah and again, it is such a standout project. But for new designers that can't find those opportunities within their family or friends, do you have any suggestions on maybe what they can take up?
00:16:20
Speaker
Yeah, I would say just do whatever the project is that you've always wanted to do. Like, don't feel like because it's not necessarily for something, it's not for a small business, it's not for a paid project, it's not for whatever, that you can't do it.
00:16:35
Speaker
Like for another 30 day project in college that I don't have anywhere on my portfolio, I did 30 different cereal box designs. Whoa. and that one was crazy. I don't have it because it got a little crazy at the end because it was 30 of them and that was a lot.
00:16:52
Speaker
But my theme was like, it was a kids, it was geared towards kids and it had kids that were superheroes illustrated on the front. And I had a QR code on the back that had like an animation that you could find on like Jiffy and stuff. And there was a maze on the back and puzzle. It was front, but it was crazy. It was a really big project.
00:17:09
Speaker
Are you saying that you did animations every day? They got worse as it went
00:17:16
Speaker
They started out really good and then they ended like, I think I just stopped doing them. Like at the like last like 10 days, i was like, there you can't, they discontinued that part of the cereal pie. Okay. is there Is there anything else you would like to share that you loved working on but is not on your portfolio? Oh man.
00:17:37
Speaker
No, I don't think so. Not that I can like think of off the top of my head. That was a big one, though, that I just like took off because I was like, this turned into a mess. but yeah But yeah, I would say just do it. Just do whatever project and treat it like it's for a paid job. And I wouldn't be afraid to put it at the top of your portfolio. Like I think like if you've always wanted to do book cover design, and that's your dream job, and it would be your dream project, and you're not working for anyone that that's going to be the project that you're working on. I would say do it do it exactly how you want to do it and put everything that you have into it.
00:18:12
Speaker
Yeah. And I think a lot of the times it's way more valuable than projects that you do for your employer. Like I remember doing a portfolio review and I had graphics that I had made for the company that I worked for.
00:18:25
Speaker
And I was like, oh man, this is going to be the best thing because I got paid to do it because I'm a grown up and I have a job and people were looking at it and they were like, I'm so uninterested by these graphics that you have because they were social graphics and they were like, anyone could have made these. Like they're good, good job, I guess. but but it's ah nothing special and it doesn't say anything about you. So like if you're really into forestry and you make these line of book covers about trees and they're super cool and they look like old botanist posters and whatever it is, i think that is like the coolest thing in the world. And everyone else will think it's the coolest thing in the world if it's that to you. i think that's why people respond so much to the
00:19:10
Speaker
tortilla chip project that I have is because it's really niche. And it says a lot about me and what I like to create. And
First Job and the Learning Curve
00:19:17
Speaker
that's what people latch on to lot of the time, i think is what you're passionate about, not necessarily what you got paid to do.
00:19:24
Speaker
Yeah, I think what I've noticed so much now in the position where I do do portfolio reviews for students is that A lot of them tend to lack that personal project that really speaks to who the designer is. Cause at the end of the day, we're in an industry where we as designers are being phased out.
00:19:41
Speaker
That's not a lie. So they are looking for someone that really just fits their team that they know that, Oh, when I see your portfolio, this is who I'm hiring and I don't have to look necessarily at anything else. But you touch on some amazing, amazing points there.
00:19:57
Speaker
Now kind of jumping back into your main story, you're doing this internship with your mom six months kind of towards the end of school and you graduate. What are you doing after you graduate? Right after I graduated, i was actually really lucky. My dad, the company that he was working at at that time was hiring a graphic designer. So I just really got lucky. He helped me through that interview process and it was at a really tiny artificial grass company. Yeah.
00:20:24
Speaker
And so I was their graphic design team when I came on, um which was really cool. It's a lot, but like you get to do everything, but then you have to do everything. And you learn so much.
00:20:35
Speaker
Yeah. You learn so much. Like I was making their brand style guide and I started their TikTok and I was going to artificial grass installations and filming everything. And like it was...
00:20:46
Speaker
I know more about turf than the average graphic designer. That is very impressive. Yeah. It's so random, but like, but it was an experience, especially because like the art that I do is very feminine and very, and like the colors that I use and like the art that,
00:21:02
Speaker
I make is like largely for me and people who I think are drawn to this kind of art that I like. And so working for an artificial grass company, it was really interesting because the voice was very male.
00:21:17
Speaker
I mean, obviously, you're a graphic designer, you design what you have to design no matter what. But social media was kind of where I really experienced. I was like, man, how do I do this? Like, how do I write this and not sound like a little 21 year old girl? So you're doing the copy too?
00:21:30
Speaker
Everything. The captions for everything, all the, I was doing the metrics for all of our social media. oh which hated. i think that too. i think all of your experiences inform what you like and what you don't like about the jobs that you take.
00:21:47
Speaker
So like, That experience made me be drawn to kind of like larger companies and I didn't necessarily have to wear all the hats because like for social media specifically, i was like, I can't do that. I can't make reports about the why people don't like this video. Like just me, my brain doesn't function that So like, I'm grateful now, like to just make stuff, send it away and make more stuff.
00:22:13
Speaker
But yeah, writing the copy for all the captions and I was like, how do I sound like my dad? Like how do I? You just get the masculine pose in before typing. Honestly, it was using zero exclamation point, zero emojis and using the word fantastic as much as I could. yeah la I mean, that's a very masculine word.
00:22:31
Speaker
And then yeah, for Instagram, it was like, it was like this installation is fantastic. Period. Nothing. No notes. Fantastic. no Fantastic. yeah So something you really touch on here, and as we've kind of discussed between both working with a smaller company and a bigger company, is that with a smaller company, you're doing essentially everything. You're being the generalist that most people are expecting now. But this has confused a lot of students going into the industry because then they think that they have to do everything. And it's kind of a daunting thing to really think about where...
00:23:05
Speaker
now you have everything that you have to do between the social media metrics, the copywriting, and then the design, and you can't ever have time for yourself to think. Yeah, I think it's really hard to be a subject matter expert about everything. I think it's impossible to be a subject matter expert about everything. I think a lot of people think like, oh, you're a graphic designer, you can animate that, right? It's like,
00:23:27
Speaker
No, I can't. Well, you can. You did all the cereal boxes, so but it's not in your portfolio, so how would they know that? And then that's the problem. When you take an animation class in college and you let them know, yeah, I took a motion graphics class in college. You're like, oh, you did?
00:23:42
Speaker
Oh, great. You're going to do this fully animated marketing campaign for us. It's like, oh, which is so scary. I took them, but I was bad at the motion graphics class. Like they were there, but they weren't great. And like, you know, you take a class in college and then months and months and months go by and then you can't do it. or At least me, I couldn't do any of that stuff anymore outside of college. Or outside of like, you know, having the guidance of a professor to like tell you everything that you're supposed to be doing and then you leave and it's like, it leaves from your brain and that's just that.
00:24:13
Speaker
But yeah, it's really difficult. I think it's like never, it's never the case. But I think learning on the job is like just a part of it. Like I hate writing things so much. It's my least favorite thing in the world. Like anytime they're like, oh yeah, like we don't have any copy set, like whatever you think. I'm like, whatever I think.
00:24:30
Speaker
Like, I don't know. I don't. That's probably the worst thing, honestly. Yeah. So i think part of it is just learning as you go. And then honestly, in best case scenario, I think a lot of times they don't necessarily expect you to be everything. I think they might want you to do everything, but I don't think it's a shock when you're like, I'll try my best, but I can't, especially when you're right out of college. Like I think as a designer, when you graduate and you enter the workforce, it's a big comfort.
00:25:02
Speaker
to like, you know, have the programs that you know how to use and kind of be your expert in that. And then when they start tossing things your way, I think it's important to be transparent.
00:25:13
Speaker
to say, you know, I've tried it out, I'm willing to learn and, you know, to watch a YouTube tutorial, but I'm not an expert in this and it's not gonna be incredible. And like, honestly, like if you need incredible motion graphics, hire an incredible motion graphic designer, because that's not me. one hundred percent 100%, 100%. are now expected to know everything, but the one thing that they're not expected to know anymore is illustration.
00:25:40
Speaker
which is such a strange thing because I got into graphic design because I wanted to do illustration. There's a graphic designer named Benny Gold that does amazing graphic design illustrations, but he only ever called himself a graphic designer.
00:25:53
Speaker
And I didn't realize that graphic designers don't actually do illustration until maybe two years ago. So I'd been doing this for like five years, like, from high school to now and only realizing that graphic designers don't really illustrate anymore.
00:26:06
Speaker
Do you have any like thoughts to that? Yeah. So I like, I don't consider myself an illustrator by any means. Like I say that I specialize in illustration basically because I like to draw.
00:26:17
Speaker
And i think that if you put me in a room with people who are actually illustrators, I'm garbage. And that's not me being self-deprecating, like genuinely. Like I know that I have not like dedicated the amount of time in my life to be a fantastic illustrator by any means, but I'm good for a graphic designer who is by definition does not have to be an artiste. Like I always say, like for people who are iffy about graphic design as a major in college, like I kind of sometimes I lead with and I was like, it's low key, at least where I went low key, the least competitive one major art major in college, because you don't have to be a talented artist to be a graphic designer, you have to
00:27:00
Speaker
not audition, you have to you have to put your portfolio for like an animation major or like an illustration major or, you know, one of the other fine art majors, you have to submit a portfolio and already be good at it to be one of those things. But for a graphic designer, a visual organizer, you can just you learn how to do it, you have the eye for it. I think the better graphic designers are the ones that have that innate creative eye for it and can you know,
00:27:28
Speaker
see things in a certain way and that's really helpful as a graphic designer. And I think obviously drawing like helps. But yeah, I always thought it was funny, like in college, like I would draw something and it would not be amazing, but I would draw something and a lot of other people weren't drawing something and they were like, Whoa, that's crazy. You know, like it was. No, I know. Yeah.
00:27:49
Speaker
Yeah, it's kind of like a little superpower when you're a graphic designer that likes to draw and likes to incorporate illustrations in what you do as a graphic designer, because that's not the norm, nor does it, in my opinion, need to be the norm. I think a lot of really incredible like graphic designers are just that they're designers and you don't need to be like a fantastic illustrator to be a fantastic designer. And then I think it's kind of a hard thing too when you like to draw and you like to do to incorporate illustrations into your work and then you get into a graphic design job and then you're like, oh no, I can't do that. Like, this is not what that is. Like, it's it's a lot of...
00:28:27
Speaker
documents and PowerPoints and like art that somebody else has made because it's their job and not mine. And that was kind of an
Transition to Disney Internship
00:28:34
Speaker
interesting learning curve too. i was like, okay, like it's not, this is not drawing time for me. And then that is kind of part of why I like to draw off on social media because that's where I get to do it. Like I don't get to do it a ton, like as a graphic designer, but in my own little Instagram world I can draw for me. And then, yeah, and then that's too, that's part of it. Like I remember in college, like a lot of my projects were like illustration based and that was like all my portfolio was. And i talked to one of my professors and i was like, is this okay? Like my,
00:29:07
Speaker
major, my degree is graphic design, but like, I don't feel like that is like reflected in my portfolio at all. yeah And she was like, No, like, it is design, like all of your compositions and all of the illustrations are the focal point of it.
00:29:20
Speaker
But it doesn't mean that you didn't design what you did. Yeah. i was Like, okay. Yeah. So thank you so much for sharing that. So can you take me back to those days as an astroturf graphic designer, you eventually left.
00:29:37
Speaker
You eventually left that position. Can you maybe talk about maybe why you did that? Yeah, I was not there for long. To be honest, I felt really insecure in that job. Like I had family members that were working for Netflix, like in a creative way. I had multiple family members that were working in Netflix in a creative way. And I had so many like people that I was in college with, like they were working for all these really cool, like huge dream companies. And I felt like ah huge, huge,
00:30:04
Speaker
failure. I was like, Oh, my gosh, I'm working at this like corporate, you know, all I'm doing is selling grass. And like, I felt so insecure in what I was doing. And at the time, i didn't really have a good resolve for that. Like I couldn't I wasn't like, you know, content in what I was doing. And like, I know, like now, like hindsight's 2020. And you look back and you're like, you know, you're still you're creating something, you know, and it's a really good experience. And for the people that you're doing it for. And they were good people. It was a good time. And, you know, design is design wherever you can do it. But at the time, it was like rough. Like I was applying for stuff while I was there. And I was like, I don't want to be here. And I should I should be doing this and I should be doing this. I feel like that's a big like intern mentality, like especially when something's not permanent. That wasn't the case there. But when you're um when you know that you have an end date somewhere and you're constantly like, I feel I have to i have to go here. I have to go here. Like I have to find somewhere else.
00:30:59
Speaker
And that for me was bred out of insecurity. Like I was just like, this isn't I could be doing more and I shouldn't be here and all this stuff. And which wasn't the healthiest mindset to about my job. I mean, it's always good to have a job all the time. But I had applied for an internship that was like a dream internship before I got that job. It was like when I was applying for stuff right out of college. And then I just didn't hear back like about the interview for like four months. I know what you mean.
00:31:30
Speaker
And so I was already there. was there and I was like, what do I do? And I was like, so I had this full-time job and I was like, was an interesting thing. Like I have this permanent full-time job and then I'm going turn it around and say bye for this like temporary internship.
00:31:46
Speaker
But it was a big enough opportunity for me where I was like, it's fine so I went through the interview process and I got it and they were all just like really supportive and I mean my dad was my boss actually so it was really funny I like was at home and I got the call and I was like I got and I was like and the I quit I quit
00:32:10
Speaker
um But yeah, I think I was there. how long was I think I was there for like four months or three months. I do not put that on my resume because I was there for that short of a time. And which I feel like is okay. I feel like it's totally okay to not put things on your resume because of how you feel about whatever the work was or because of how long you were there.
00:32:28
Speaker
But... No, I know the feeling. I know the feeling. But yeah, and then so I started like, I think I walked for my graduation in like May. And then I started like that week at my internship.
00:32:39
Speaker
Just to shout it out. and s Sabrina's being super humble. But where did you intern? I was an intern for Disney Parks Experiences and Products. A different name now. It's Disney Experiences. It's the team that I work on now.
00:32:50
Speaker
But I was an intern there for a year. it was six months and six months. And then was left for a year and a half and then came back in September of last year.
00:33:03
Speaker
So you learned so many skills from, you know, your time in high school, transitioning again, doing all these random majors before landing on art in college, going to Cal State Fullerton, both doing internships for your mom, your dad, and then before landing you here, you learned just so much.
00:33:21
Speaker
Which of those skills in your tool belt did you really utilize transitioning into this larger corporate, again, storytelling focused company. It was really cool because as an intern, like I could kind of like shadow other teams. So I shadowed like the photography team and the social media team, like that would actually like film all of the content and stuff like that. My team did social graphics and supported blog headers and stuff like that. But we got to do a lot of like cool in-person events too. think probably what I took with me from jumping around different experiences going into that internship
00:33:58
Speaker
was probably just flexibility. I think that's probably the most important thing when you're going into a new environment where everything's new, being adaptable, being flexible, I think is probably the most important thing to be honest, just because I feel like everything changes so fast.
00:34:14
Speaker
You're learning the processes of the company, processes of the team. I think it's really important
Advice for Aspiring Designers
00:34:18
Speaker
to not be you know stuck in the way that you should do something and just be ready to say, okay Yes, you know, I'll do it this way. I'll do it this way. I'll try it this way.
00:34:28
Speaker
I totally get what you mean about staying flexible, being adaptable. But in those interviews for this internship, Did you feel like they latched on to one skill more than another?
00:34:39
Speaker
i think, honestly, in my interview for my internship, the thing that they latched on to the most were the stories that I told within what I was making creatively.
00:34:51
Speaker
Like, I think the biggest piece of advice that I give to people when they ask about how can they put their best foot forward for an interview with a company like Disney, I always say to lead with what you are passionate about and to not lead necessarily with what you think is going to impress a big company. Because in my interview, I expected to have to, you know, say, you know, all of my skills that I could do and how I would be, you know, a valuable asset to the team. But when I got into it, you know, at the point of an interview with a person, they've already seen your resume, they already know your experience level and like what they think that you can do. And then
00:35:29
Speaker
in the interview, they want to know more about you as a person and how that translates through the art that you have to show. So I feel largely what I talked about in my interview was i throw it back to the tortilla chip bag project. That's what it was. Like I remember in the interview, like I was ready and I was sitting there and then they were like, oh my gosh, these tortilla chip bags are so cool. Like feature all these calaveras all these women like can you tell us about that and like why you did that and how how your culture impacts like what you designed that's what they're really interested in they're interested in me and learning more about me and how that flowed through my artwork and how that impacted who I am as a creative and so i think in any interview really it's the most important to lead with you and who you are and not with what you think is going to get you the job
00:36:19
Speaker
So as we wrap up here, for the students at home still thinking about what internships and what skill sets to really hone in on and whether or not they should know everything, what are your final thoughts?
00:36:31
Speaker
I think that for students who are applying to stuff right now, i think that most importantly, just be you. Just try to hone, most importantly, your creative voice and what you enjoy creating and I think everything will follow after, like genuinely. Like I think in no matter what position that you have too, like if you if you love creating like anime style artwork and you're applying to all these jobs where you're like, there's no way that I'm gonna do any of this type of artwork in that job, maybe not, but showing that you're passionate about something, showing that you're motivated to create something
00:37:13
Speaker
whatever it is that you create, that you're an artistic person, that you've done all of this work for yourself because you're passionate about it. I think that's what people value when they look for someone on their team, that they want to work with somebody who who wants to be there, who's excited about doing something creative. Yeah, I think don't be discouraged by applying for stuff and never hearing from anyone ever. I've applied for a million things and then gotten i mean, been lucky to get rejection emails back just so I know. Yeah. so
00:37:45
Speaker
I feel like for everything that you apply for, like genuinely what'll shake out is always going to be a good thing. You know, no matter what, no matter if the experience, if you hate it, it's a good experience for you to know like what you value in your workplace and what you don't.
00:38:02
Speaker
Yeah, to apply for everything, let them tell you no before you tell yourself no. If you see this huge company and you're like, oh, there's no way and they're requiring this amount of experience and, you know, I'm so out of my league and blah, blah, blah.
00:38:13
Speaker
you really shouldn't be the one who's knocking yourself out of the race before somebody else does. And I mean, there's a super good chance that they're going to think the same thing that you do, but you should let them do it and not yourself to not sell yourself short. i feel like I see things like when I was applying for jobs, I would see a job. I was like, oh my gosh, like that's, that's so cool. And I'm going to save it. And I'm going to work on my resume until I die. And I'm the perfect person in the world. And then the job was enclosed.
00:38:39
Speaker
And And you never apply for it. I think that's big too. I feel like a lot of the interviews that I've gotten has been like resumes that I flew out and I didn't tweak at all. Like I was just like, ah, I'm tired of this. And I just threw a resume out and I was like, whatever. And then that's what came back to me. And I was like, what do you mean? But you never know like what a hiring manager is going to see when they look at your resume. So Yeah, I think it's good to like to throw it all out there to work on your portfolio and to work on things that you're passionate about and things that you stand behind.
00:39:15
Speaker
But for the resume of it all so just just throw it out because you never know. Yeah.
Conclusion and Community Support
00:39:20
Speaker
yeah Sabrina, thank you so much for joining us today and sharing your milestones here on the creative milestone.
00:39:27
Speaker
Where can our listeners find you on socials? Oh my gosh. Well, I'm at HiSabrinaNoel on Instagram and that's it.
00:39:38
Speaker
Well, you you have a you have a LinkedIn, you have a portfolio. There's all these different things that can find through Instagram. There you go. that's all there.
00:39:51
Speaker
What sets Sabrina apart is the way she blends herself into her artistry. The same thoughtfulness she puts into her illustrations is reflected in how she navigates her career with honesty, heart, and a sense of self.
00:40:04
Speaker
While others may chase trends, Sabrina has really stuck her own path, staying grounded in what makes her work feel personal and true. Sabrina, thank you for always being such a great friend and sharing your journey here with us on The Creative Milestone.
00:40:20
Speaker
I can't wait to see where your passion projects take you next.
00:40:25
Speaker
If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to subscribe and follow our Instagram. But most importantly, share this with someone who needs it. Creativity isn't just a craft, but a community of people trying to make a name for ourselves.
00:40:40
Speaker
We shouldn't let competition affect the longevity of this community. So share what you've learned here with a friend, a student, or whoever, and to thank you for listening.