Name: Crystal Chau
Age: 18
Major: Graphic Design
FIDM Campus and Start Date: Orange County Campus, Fall 2011
Admissions Advisor: Rose Mendez
Tell us a little about yourself. I am an open-minded free spirit who is always looking for new inspiration. Overall, I am a person who is constantly involved the arts, whether it be graphic design, drawing, writing, photography, or dancing. I am passionate in anything I take part in and I put my heart and soul into each activity.
Being a first-year high school graduate, I am quite new to the college life. Although I am not 100 percent sure of what to expect at FIDM, I am excited to find out what it's like to go to graphic design school, and eager to be a part of the friendly environment.
What are your proudest accomplishments so far? A poem book that my grandpa helped me publish, including poems I wrote since I first started at age 12, and a novella I wrote for my senior English class which my grandpa also helped me publish. I never really took writing into consideration as one of my passions but over the years, I noticed how it came natural to me.
Another accomplishment I am proud of would be my four years of commitment towards Polynesian dancing. Any type of dancing is pretty much second nature to me, but somehow Polynesian dancing stuck with me and I won a couple of competitions over the years.
What made FIDM right for you? I see FIDM as a school that was made specifically for me. Being the artsy child that I was, I did not know how I was to approach my future because I did not know which school to go to. After I graduated high school at Oxford Academy, I had my mind set to attending Fullerton College for two years then transfer to Cal State Fullerton.
However, a week before school starts, my mom suggested FIDM to me and my eyes instantly lit up. I usually do not make hasty decisions unless I am sure of what I want and this school just stood out and called for me to take a visit. I instantly decided to pursue a graphic design degree from FIDM.
Describe your entrance project. For my entrance project I had to create slogan and logo to be printed on a shopping bag, create a magazine advertisement, and create a cover for the store’s catalogue. I decided to create my own company called CRY$IS, which was a jewelry company with jewelry crafted from scrabble tiles. The slogan was “Prepare for the army of twenty-six,” as in the twenty-six letters of the alphabet, with an army/camouflage theme.
I also included the target market for my company. For the shopping bag, I had each letter, “C,” “R,” “Y,” “S,” and “I” on different bags. For the magazine advertisement, I took a picture of the word “crysis” on a scrabble board with necklace chains surrounding it and gave it a mysterious theme. For the magazine catalogue, I created a cover for each season of the year, featuring a different piece of jewelry along with different colors for the camouflage background.
What are your career goals? In the near future, I would like to be working for a design firm or more specifically, creating corporate identities or working for a magazine or clothing company. I would definitely enjoy the opportunity to freelance on the side. I still want to continue dancing in Polynesian shows as a way of making extra income as well as way of releasing my stress and just having fun.
What do you expect to learn at FIDM?
I expect to learn everything I need to know at FIDM that will help me succeed in life. With the necessary tools, skills, and experience from the instructors, I am certain that I will be guided down the right path. I can’t wait!
