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connected
staying connected ni and een Parsons alum w et b ps hi ns tio la lights re na Natalia “Connected” high d Technology alum an n ig es D . lty cu d fa ith Parsons current students an Designs, spoke w Y N of or ct re tion di ’03, t how her organiza ou Argüello, MFA ab ak oj W ie g preneurs. director An Career Services s succeed as entre er gn si de d he lis b d esta helps emerging an
speak to the Angie Wojak: Could you son who
e as a per “global–local” perspectiv outside the United came to Parsons from designers start local States and now helps businesses? en I moved to New Natalia ArgÜello: Wh ation design business York, I left my communic d with people from in Ecuador where I worke e to Parsons to study all over the world. I cam hadn’t planned to interactive design and opportunities kept stay in New York, but job d at NY Designs, me in the city. I was hire ps designers learn an organization that hel erage local resources business skills and lev I researched design to succeed. At Parsons, erstand the gaps in and education, so I und en have. Because my skills that designers oft m such a variety of fellow students came fro learned how designers cultural backgrounds, I es to the design bring different perspectiv we’re currently process. At NY Designs, ers in New York to sur veying Latino design better. ser ve that community
Angie Wojak: Parsons students and alumni are increasingly interested in entrepreneurship. Can you tell us about how NY Designs helps designers laun ch their businesses?
Natalia
ArgÜello: We help clients who are considering opening a business star t by writing business plans. The exer cise helps people decide to be freelanc ers or entrepreneurs. We help designers launch their businesses by providing stud io space, business and sustainability training, handson business counseling, and a cutt ing-edge prototype lab. To have a business , you have to own all aspects of it. At first, it’s hard to balance client services and designin g! We assign our designers business advi sors to coach them on all aspects of star ting their company. Many designers begin by working for another company to cultivate skills, then branch out by freelancing and late r open their own businesses. bers
Angie Wojak: Tell us about how mem
ently of the Parsons community are curr working with NY Designs. ror ’02 Natalia ArgÜello: Robyn Singer-D and alum ons Pars (BFA Interior Design) is a ior inter an with resident client at NY Designs ing look s she’ es; design practice at our offic by, one of for Parsons interns now. Carol Over at Parsons, ber mem our advisors and a faculty Morgan, h Sara gner recently worked with desi for her ns inter as who hired Parsons students Target, with s deal ed business. Sarah just sign Inglés. e Cort El iler Wal-Mar t, and Spanish reta ther That’s local and global! ns with o s llaboratio o c r e Parson u o th y ts from r about n a e e d h re tu o s to r m e ulty o . For We’d lik rrent fac hool.edu r with cu i@newsc n m ns.org. lu ig a s t alumni o e ww.nyd ail us a w m E it is y. visit v it , n ervices, commu Designs Career S s about NY n n o o rs ti a a P inform on about px informati career.as / s e ic For more rv e s / u d ons.e www.pars