Today we’d like to introduce you to Giovanni Espinueva.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
First and foremost, I am a DAYGO native, born and raised. I am a UX/UI designer at GOAT, a mentor for in-need teens through AIGA LINK SD, and the Founder/Creative Director of my design firm, Barkada Studio.
My story has had a lot of bumpy roads since childhood. I was raised by my grandparents, my Uncle Fred and his wife, my Uncle Daryl who became like a brother to me, and most of all, myself. Growing up, I never had my mom or my dad in my life to help guide me through the normal tribulations of childhood and my teenage years. My mother passed away when I was ten and my father was always getting into some sort of trouble. My father was a gangster in the 90s and bad habits would follow him into the present day. He would be and still is absent in my life. He became a prime example of what I never wanted to become. My mother, on the other hand, became a constant reminder that life is short, cherish those around you, and still teaches me lessons like any other mother would in physical form. I recently received a letter from my mother via my grandmother last December. The date was from 1998 and wanted me to read it when I was older and ready. She wrote about her love for me and for me to continue to strive for greatness. That is exactly what I will and always do. Having all these negative forces knocking on the doorstep of my mind, it fueled me to strive for success and growth. It pushed me to the point where it is integral for me to be addicted to growth. Despite everything my family and I have been through, I would never change the past.
My Uncle Fred, one of the main father figures in my life, has taught me to be a man. Not just that but also help me gain access to different creative outlets and experiences throughout my entire life. He knew I wasn’t a “normal” kid and would never have the same life as others. He knew how to explain my situation at a young age, he understood me. For someone to raise himself (age 15 at the time) along with a child who isn’t his own became the epitome of a man to me. At one point, he was a graphic designer for an agency called, The Designory. They were a top firm that worked with car companies like Nissan and Infiniti. One day in the summer of 2004, I stayed with him at his apartment in Long Beach for one week and I went to work with him every day. Little did we know, that I too would become a designer just like him.
My journey to becoming a designer was unconventional. It reflects how I like to chart my own path and go against the grain. I am a high school dropout and a college dropout. I don’t undermine education and I think it is a necessary step to try different career paths and assists in unlocking your potential for greater heights. It was just a path I didn’t want to fully commit to. Knowing that the traditional school system was not for me, I decided to let my work, persona, and work ethic speak for itself. There are many pathways to design, you can be a print designer, environmental designer, product designer, and many more. I remember seeing a video in a web/mobile design class at San Diego City College (which arguably has one of the best design programs in Southern California) about an augmented reality headset. My professor, Paul Drohan, said: “This is future UX/UI design.” I fell in love with the fact that I can design something that impacts the future with the use of left AND right brain thinking. I’ve never looked back since.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
There is a lot of different nomenclature about the name of my position, my official title is a UX/UI designer (User Experience/User Interface Designer). Some may call it a Product Designer. I basically dive in the digital space of design, working with websites, software, and mobile apps. I research and create the user journey or “experience” for individuals using a product. I then will translate that information into a visual design or an “interface.”
To help better understand it, there is a difference between art and design. John Maeda said, “art creates questions, and design creates solutions.” If you go into a museum, you interpret the piece of an artist by asking yourself a series of personalized questions. However, designers want to limit the friction of understanding what you are experiencing, whether it’s a logo or a product. For example, if you see a door that has a pull handle but says “push”; There is a high chance you pay to pull the door regardless out of simplistic confusion. That is an example of bad design. The job of a designer is to assist in eliminating these negative experiences. I have a lot of background working with start-ups to Fortune 500 giants.
I currently design for a company called GOAT. It’s a company that works in the sneaker industry and tech space. We are the top company that authorizes sneakers to ensure that consumers don’t receive counterfeit products through our mobile app and software. It’s a dream come true to be working with a subculture(s) I’ve grown up with which is hip-hop, sneakers, streetwear, design, and tech.
I also recently started my own design firm called Barkada Studio. Barkada is Tagalog for “close group of friends or brotherhood.” I wanted something Filipino that makes me and others proud of where they came from. I wanted a name that held strength that wasn’t cliche but to build a culture brand, not just another agency or lifestyle company. Barkada means that you are the best at what you do, you do it for each other and to help each other as much as possible. Barkada means you are homies, you are family, and you take care of your own. I am trying to create an environment that breaks rules with utmost ambition.
The message and inspiration I hope others to take away from my designs is very simple. I hope to inspire others to not just appreciate my creative outlet, but to help fuel theirs. I don’t want to just connect to other designers in my respective field but to help motivate others to hustle in their craft. I mentor in-need teens through a program called AIGA LINK SD and it is one of the most satisfying things I do on my own personal time. Being able to connect with them, open their minds to various creative mediums, and inspire them is something I would like to bring to the masses.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
Don’t get too caught up in design inspiration. It works for some people but do not get into the craft. Life is all about balance, you can easily waste your time by chasing your dreams and not knowingly see you are running away from your blessings at the same time.
To be inspired, sometimes all you need is to create to inspire rather than just inspire to create. Learn through outlets such as udemy, podcasts, school, or skill share for knowledge. But remember to keep creating. The pay off will always feel good.
Sometimes podcast can put you in a bubble of “am I on the right path? These guys obviously know what they are talking about.” I and a handful of people have definitely gone through that mindset. Your path is unique, you don’t need some design podcast host to tell you how to achieve your goals. The podcast I love right now is a comedy podcast called “Bodega Boys.” Comedy podcasts are my thing right now. We all need to laugh more in a world that has easy access to the info on stressful events around the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.barkadastudio.net
- Email: hello@barkadastudio.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giovanni_farin/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/barkada_studio/
Image Credit:
PHOTOGRAPHER: Justin Catubay, STYLIST: Annabelle Sundara
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