Shirley Arista Casanova
I believe it’s important to always look back at where we come from to understand where we are going. As an international student, my training at the school was fundamental: I learned a new language, a new vocabulary. I experienced the process of adapting within the school, where I was warmly welcomed. It was the school that helped me find a company, which I’m still part of today. I discovered a new way of communicating, a new world in which I was able to integrate quickly.
The work-study program enriched me not only academically, but also personally. It helped me develop discipline, acquire a working method, and evolve my creativity through drawing. It taught me to listen in order to create—but above all, to know when to stop and show only the essential, so that the message comes across clearly.
A deadline is a deadline. There’s no negotiating it, no rescheduling a presentation with a client; no excuses are acceptable, and you have to work in a clear and intelligible way. You must learn to communicate with the team to coordinate various tasks in order to achieve a result that satisfies the client, while also meeting the quality standards expected by the company.
The M project, my very first in the company, was the one that allowed me to show what I was capable of and to learn what I still didn’t know. It involved a beautiful pre-war house with curved shapes. At the start, we only had the shell. The in-depth research required to design the interior was substantial, as was the work of selecting furnishings. We began with the major elements and then refined down to the smallest details of the house. Seeing the final result of this project showed me that anything is possible, and that inspiration is everywhere. It confirmed that this is truly the profession I want to dedicate my career to. Now that I’ve graduated, the ability to express my ideas through drawings or sketches—especially around a table with people analyzing what you’re trying to convey—is the most valuable skill. It’s indescribable, because I believe that everything can be said through a drawing; you just have to let the pencils speak.
Thanks to ESAM Design and my professors, I was able to develop this talent and give free rein to my creativity every day. Thank you.