Student

Student Carolina Recendez De Luna Inspired By Immigrant Parents To Achieve

Carolina Recendez De Luna is one of twelve Visual Communications students in Roy Kunkle’s Design Installation class who currently has their work on display at the Macy's Flower Show in San Francisco. She partnered with Nicolette Fleming to create “Swing Babe,” inspired by the carnival theme of the Macy's show.

Tell us about your Macy's Flower Show experience: Working on the design installation was fun and challenging, and I'm grateful for the opportunity that Macy's and FIDM gave our class. Creating the design was especially difficult because I had so many ideas! I couldn't just pick one! It was exciting when the Macy's visual team picked one of my designs. I am very proud of the work that my partner, Nicolette Fleming, and I did. Nicolette was extremely helpful and enthusiastic throughout the whole project. I really couldn't have done it without her. Seeing Swing Babe on her pedestal at Macy's was a proud and satisfying moment for both of us.

Biggest lesson learned? Not everything will go as planned, and you must know how to adjust. From the beginning, Nicolette and I had to think creatively to solve the challenges we would run into while building Swing Babe. Our project had an architectural aspect and we had to learn to build a sturdy but light base to work off of. In the end, however, Swing Babe turned out better than expected.

I hope to inspire others when they see the installation. I know from experience that choosing a creative career is a difficult path but it's something that I’m passionate about. I hope that other people can see that and be inspired to chase after their own creative dreams.

Tell us a little about yourself: I was born and raised in Modesto, CA, to amazingly hardworking immigrant parents. I have five brothers and one sister who helped me become the person I am today. Fashion and design have always been a part of my life. At an early age, my mother showed me that what I wear is an effective tool to help express who I am. My father taught me that with the right mindset and equipment I can create whatever I imagine. My siblings inspire me to think young and always look forward to what is yet to come. I am fortunate to have the family I have, and I know that without them I would not be where I am today.

What are your career goals and how is FIDM helping you get there? As a Visual Communications Major, I have many different career paths I can pursue. What has interested me the most is Event Planning & Design and Social Media Marketing. My goal is to be able to work in either career as soon as I graduate FIDM and if it wasn't for FIDM I wouldn't even know that those careers existed!

What advice do you have for someone thinking about going to FIDM? If you're passionate about the industry and are a hardworking individual who is up for a challenge, then this is the school for you. It’s the hardest challenge I've ran into so far but I've seen myself grow as a designer and for that I have FIDM and all of the amazing people here to thank.

Would you recommend the Design Installation class? Yes! It has been one of the best experiences I have had at FIDM. It showed me that I have the potential to be successful in the industry and but it also showed me that I can't do it alone. We all depend on each other and it brings people together to accomplish a common goal.