Today we’d like to introduce you to Lourdes Valdez.
Hi Lourdes, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
My name is Lourdes; I am originally from Guatemala, I am 27 years old, and this is my story.
I certainly consider myself an adventurous spirit in every way. Since I was little, I have been called by the desire to be creative, and that desire has led me to find another passion, which is “entrepreneurship.”
At just nine years old, I started my first sales venture at school…chocolate popsicles that I used to make at home with my mom and grandmother. I will always carry this memory with me because I don’t forget the excitement I felt to return home with my empty box of chocolates and a handwritten sheet with the list of orders for the next few days.
From then on, I kept thinking as I advanced through the grade in school, what else could I sell? and that it was in accordance with what was fashionable at that time. I remember selling coloring pictures, candy, and posters.
As I grew…
My mom and grandmother always supported my dreams and passions. They discovered with me that creative and artistic activities were my favorites, so they always motivated me with painting, drawing, and crafts, giving me materials and tools to create my arts. My mom enrolled me in classical ballet classes and vacation courses where they promoted the art.
All these experiences in my childhood and adolescence led me to make the decision to study graphic design in my last two years of school…Confirming what I already knew deep down…That it was my dream job! One I always wanted to be present in my life.
I worked as a graphic designer for the first time in 2013, and I still follow that path today.
I started university in 2014 as a Graphic Designer and Communicator and finished my bachelor’s degree in 2019.
Working full-time as an employee in an office was undoubtedly an excellent experience that allowed me to further explore my skills and learn how everything works in the work environment, to grow professionally and personally, and to create connections and formative and support ties with my team.
However, at the end of 2019, I began to think about the idea that I could find more opportunities outside that could challenge me, increase my knowledge, and enhance my skills. That thought kept me in a position of restlessness and insecurity for a couple of months. But my adventurous and creative spirit, which has accompanied me since childhood, prevailed more than that, so I decided, without having anything prepared or waiting for me outside, to definitively resign from the job that I had been working for five years.
By then, the pandemic was reaching Guatemala, the chances and opportunities might seem “scarce” to some, but in reality, it was the opposite. Consulting and project proposals began to come to me; it turns out that my clients from past projects were so satisfied with my work that they did not stop recommending me to other colleagues.
So, from being “Freelance,” I decided to officially start my personal brand as a graphic designer, focused mainly on brand design – branding and visual identity.
In 2021, my life took a 180-degree turn. I moved with my American boyfriend (Currently husband) to San Diego, California, after four years of dating and having met in 2017 in Guatemala through his service in the Peace Corps of the United States; we decided to unite our lives forever and get married.
He has been another important support in my life, supporting me with my entrepreneurial ideas. During my immigration process, I was able to train and update myself with graphic design trends in order to provide my clients with a better experience and quality of work, with 100% effective and significant results for their brands. This is how Loro Designs CA started.
As a graphic designer, I bring a variety of technical skills and creative vision to every project I work on. But more than that, I bring a deep sense of empathy and a commitment to understanding the needs and values of the communities I serve. I believe that good design is not just about aesthetics but about using visual communication to have a positive impact on the world.
I am excited by the opportunity to bring my unique perspective and passion for design through Loro Designs CA to create impactful and meaningful design solutions.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Having a business is certainly a challenge. It requires a lot of time, especially when you’re starting out since you can’t afford it financially at the beginning to be able to subcontract other professionals to delegate part of the work. This has led me, on the one hand, to pressure myself and demand that I carry out everything without limitations.
On the other hand, I consider that the road has been quiet. Each challenge and situation is part of my learning and who I am now.
One of the most difficult and recent difficulties that I have had to go through was my immigration process. Because I had to pause my work while waiting for my work permit, I remember that I got a little depressed; I felt that the growth and progress that I had achieved from Guatemala with my personal brand had gone downhill.
However, another very characteristic part of my personality is that I try to maintain a positive vision towards negative situations, and I take advantage of that time to fine-tune details, organize ideas and improve my services to provide a 100% personalized experience to my clients.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Loro Designs CA.?
Loro Design CA is a passionate brand that was born out of love for graphic design and the purpose of supporting small and medium-sized companies to build a unique and intentional brand identity which returns security and correctly characterizes your business.
I firmly believe that great ideas come from dreams and that I have the experience and potential to strategically turn all ideas into an effective reality.
Loro Designs CA works with small and medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs from anywhere in the world who do not feel a coherent identity with their brand.
As a 100% transparent and empathetic brand, I want to remind all entrepreneurs that we all cross the same path, with difficulties and opportunities.
That is why, as a creative business, I use social media to be able to share daily free and useful content in a clear way and represent my brand personality so that other entrepreneurs can replicate it in their businesses and have a clearer path to follow. Take when making visual and social media decisions.
With this, I want to emphasize that one of my competitive advantages in the market is that I am not the typical graphic designer who does the job, and then the working relationship dies.
On the contrary, communication for me is key in my work process. When you work with me, I give you advice during the life of the project and beyond.
Within each package, I include mini digital guides that will make you better understand how your package is organized by folders, how each type of attachment works, and how you can get a better project from the graphic pieces that I include.
Some of the adjectives that stand out the most in the reviews of my clients and in their recommendations are: Punctuality – Creativity – Responsibility – Professionalism, and Trust.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My recommendation as a personal brand is that you take advantage of social networks. For me, good results have come from collaborations and interaction through social networks. I would also recommend participating in formal and ad-hoc networking groups, always keeping your five-minute “elevator pitch” in mind. I am currently an active member of networking events promoted and organized by the Women Business Center of San Diego, CA.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorodesignsca/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090627033774
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/lorodesignsca/
Image Credits
Margaret Paredes-Rivas
