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  Born in Portsmouth, Virginia and raised around the world since his father was in the Navy, Graphic Design Alum Brandon Palma’s interest in graphic arts started at a young age. “When I was younger I started collecting stamps and would spend hours studying these little pictures,” he explains. “The computer end of it started for me in 2000, when I got my first family computer.” After learning about FIDM from a high school art teacher, Brandon paid a visit to the college and was impressed with the campus and environment. He enrolled at FIDM, working at a local coffee shop and taking freelance gigs to support himself, and graduated in 2005. He went on to work as a graphic and apparel designer for Backside Records, co-owned the seasonal t-shirt line One Man Stand, and did web design for Hellz Bellz.
In 2009, Brandon moved to Seattle to pursue an opportunity to start up a graphic design and t-shirt print shop called Early Morning. After the main investor pulled out and moved the shop to a warehouse, Brandon decided to move on and join the regional magazine for the Northwest, DList (the “D” stands for Dress, Dine, Drink & Dance) as graphic designer. “My responsibilities include designing ads, layout designing, designing elements to compliment layouts, and some web work as well,” he explains. “I love my job’s fluidity and flexibility. I have a very open schedule and there have been great opportunities presented.” And while he’s happy with his current gig, Brandon is still dreaming big: “My goal for the future is to one day be the vessel for the design idea that will change human experience for the goodness of all.”
Visit brandonpalma.com for more information.
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  Born at the Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital and raised in Oceanside, California, Krista West ’09 first fell in love with fashion in fifth grade. “That is when I looked at my first Vogue magazine that was sitting on the coffee table,” she explains. “I instantly fell in love with the colors and shapes of clothing and accessories and I remember looking at the photos and thinking that it was someone’s job to create a story from the clothing—it was like playing dress-up.” Since Krista knew from a young age that she wanted to work for fashion, FIDM was on her radar. She initially thought she would major in Interior Design, but after taking a tour of the LA campus and hearing more about Visual Communications, she was hooked. “I knew right away that this was the major for me because I loved how it was so versatile and included a little bit of every major, so your knowledge base by the end is truly remarkable and extensive,” says Krista, who has also dabbled in some graphic work and photography.
Today, Krista works as a Los Angeles-based freelance stylist and frequently works with Volcom. Her responsibilities include helping assist and oversee the photos that are shot and making sure that the final picture taken is website quality for the E-Commerce department as well as for the retailer catalog for Men, Women, Youth and Snow. “I love being on set,” she says. “There is nothing like waking up to a cup of tea and friendly faces who are passionate about the same things you are and ready to work.” She says that she loves how each day brings a different problem to solve and how no two shoots are ever the same so it doesn’t feel like a routine. Krista credits FIDM with helping to prepare her for the freelance world. “Ms. Litzinger was amazing and really helped me understand how to think about a concept and deliver quality work and Mr. Robles had also significantly helped me realize that I am selling my work abilities and how to brand 'me' as a company,” she notes. “There have been many other amazing teachers as well, and all in all I learned something extremely important from each and every class I took.”
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  Bakersfield, California native Marisa Willoughby ’08 first heard about FIDM through a recruiter during a Career Day at her high school. Picking Graphic Design was not a difficult decision for Marisa, who currently lives in Hollywood. “Ever since I was little I always had this fascination with computers since my Dad was in IT for Chevron Inc.,” she explains. “I just loved the aesthetic versus the technical aspect.” Marisa is currently Junior Art Director at the boutique entertainment advertising and marketing firm, The Arterie.
Her responsibilities include creating unique and fresh movie campaigns, including theatrical, television, outdoor, and online. Marisa also does some production work, comp building, and comes up with marketing strategies and partners to promote films before their release. “Working for a small agency has given me the freedom to wear many hats at the company,” she says. “I feel really valued and confident in my work. I had to learn fast and push myself.”
Marisa credits FIDM with giving her the hands-on learning she needed for this exciting industry. “I loved that our teachers were actively working at agencies, so it gave me the opportunity to network early on,” she explains. “Plus, the internship that I had for six months really let me see how fast-paced the real world is versus text book knowledge.” When it comes to her design process, Marisa is inspired by photography websites and hopes to one day be a Creative Director of a large company. “I would give direction to lots of Art Directors to encourage their vision of specific design,” she says. “I would love to go on client meetings and pitches and represent the creative.”
Visit http://www.thearterie.com for more information.
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  Growing up in Perth, Australia, Hannah Ciallella ’08 didn’t know anything about FIDM until her sister’s wedding. “She wore a dress from FIDM Alumna Monique Lhuillier,” explains Hannah, who had always been interested in fashion. “I had turned down an acceptance at Central St. Martins a few years back so it just felt right this time.” As the Online Editor for Genlux Magazine, Hannah’s responsibilities include sourcing and managing the website’s content, working on photo shoots when needed, pulling clothes, and working product shoots for upcoming issues. “FIDM was perfect for preparing me for what lay ahead,” she says. “The internships and the broad scope of work meant that I got a real understanding of what the fashion industry offered. It was my internship at Genlux, which I received through FIDM, that further validated my desire to work in magazines.”
Since Hannah is a “one man team” with the website, her job involves long hours and little downtime. “However, I absolutely love what I do, so it never feels like a job,” she notes. “Every day is different so I’m constantly challenged.” She loves the fact that her online role means that she can work anywhere in the world, from New York Fashion Week to a trip home to Australia. Hannah says she’s inspired by everything from her family and friends to other magazines, museums such as the Tate in London and artists like Mark Rothko. “My family is from the UK and Italy and they have always believed that travel is the best education,” adds Hannah, who pursues photography in her time off. “I believe that you never stop learning. The world is such a huge place and has so much to offer that I want to get more out of it.”
Visit http://www.genlux.com for more information.
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  On Merchandise Marketing Student Eiman Hamza’s first day of math, the only seat left in the classroom was next to Merchandise Product Development Student Michael Scarpellini ’07. “It all started then and there,” says Eiman, who fell in love with and later married Michael in 2009. Eiman and Michael are the entrepreneurs behind the successful chain of My Closet boutiques in Italy and the clothing line Happiness, which is composed of $10 Tees. “All of our boutiques are vertically integrated with our factory, so we are able to oversee production, design ourselves, and we have everything accessible to all of our boutiques,” Michael explains about his family-owned factory in Rimini, Italy. “We have very high turnover with fast production. We buy brands from showrooms as well.”
When it came time to talk about bringing the successful boutique Stateside, Michael was the one who thought of their friend Gabriela Valenzuela ’07, a FIDM Merchandise Product Development Grad who was also a bridesmaid of Eiman’s. “It will stay similar to the concept we have provided Italy, but we will push the Italian lifestyle much harder for LA,” Eiman explains about the store, expected to open this fall on Melrose Avenue. “We have learned that giving back to people what they have lost or what they never had is what we do best.” Gabriela, who has worked as an assistant designer in the past, was itching to open her own business. “I could not pass up this golden opportunity,” Gabriela says. “Once the store is all set I want to start designing my own line to be produced in Italy. I could not be any happier with the business I am opening or with the people I am opening it with.”
Eiman says that FIDM helped to pave the way for her success. “Every single class I have ever taken at FIDM has been put to use every single day since I graduated,” she says. “Michael and I talk about what we learned at FIDM while in the process of creating projects.” Gabriela adds that, “We were inspired, challenged, and educated by our instructors and fellow students at FIDM. I would say that Eiman, Michael, and I are the perfect example of this.”
Visit mycloset.it for more information!
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