Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Guth
Hi Andrea, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in San José, Costa Rica. Both of my parents are designers, and while I thought I had to choose a completely different career path than them to stand out, it was shortly after that I realized I didn’t see myself doing anything other than design. After graduating high school I took a gap year and did a community service exchange program in Vienna, Austria. I’ve always said this time abroad completely changed my life. It introduced me to countries, cultures, adventures and experiences I could have only dreamed of before. And it was during my time there that I decided I wanted to go to school for design, and I wanted to go to SCAD. I was introduced to SCAD earlier on since my mom is an alumni and my older brother was attending during that time. After completing my exchange program I went back home for a couple of months and then left to Savannah to start an amazing journey. A lot was lived during my 4 years at SCAD. Many classes, classmates, two campus jobs, a pandemic, competitions, prizes and ultimately one graduation. SCAD gave me some of my best memories, and definitely an amazing learning opportunity. After graduating job searching began, and a couple of months after, and many job applications later I got an email for a position in Microsoft. Two years later I can say I’ve learn more than I could have ever imagined, from amazing coworkers. Being part of the Developer Division in Microsoft has given me so many life and professional lessons which I will treasure for life. As the designated designer for .NET, one of their products. I get to collaborate with PMs and marketing folks to complete website designs and graphic design requests. It’s been quite the journey, and I couldn’t be happier and more grateful to be where I am today!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has most definitely not been a smooth road, but I’m honestly grateful now for every obstacle since they’ve gotten me where I am today! Initially, after finishing my exchange program I was supposed to go almost directly to college. Unfortunately I was not able to since my family experienced some financial hardship. My parents are the strongest most resilient humans I know, and even though it was a tough time for them and I though for a moment it was the end of my world, I knew that together everything was gonna be okay. Just months after I was able to enroll in the next quarter at SCAD and the rest is history!
I would also say that with uncertainty also comes a lot of growth. Being a recent graduate trying to find a job can be really scary, and being an international recent graduate looking for a job can be even more scary. Many are not aware of all of the challenges international students face, but we are on a strict timeline to find a job after graduating, and live under the uncertainty of not knowing for how long we will be able to stay, and if we”ll get the visa, all while we’ve already built our life in this country.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a UX designer currently working for Microsoft. I specialize in web design and design systems, and I’m known for taking any opportunity to complete a design challenge or competition. During my time with Microsoft I’ve worked on redesigning the .NET website ever since the rebranding project started. From creating new components to fit in our design systems library, to creating swag designs for big events such as .NET Conf, .NET has given me more than just working experience.
Even though I am very proud of design competitions and challenges I’ve won in the past, I believe my collaborations skills and way of working are what makes me most proud of, and what sets me apart form others. Growing up I danced competitively for more than 15 years which gave me not only my discipline, but also the strong sense of collaboration and team work. Even if your working individually on an assignment, you have to think about the larger team and impact this will have.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Every single memory I have with my parent and two brothers. Now that me and my siblings have moved out, and my parents still live back home in Costa Rica, I really cherish all of those moments in a our childhood where we would spend time the five of us. From trips to Disney or to our favorite hotel at the beach, to dinners and what we call “fiestitas” which essentially is us sitting together with nice music and delicious bites, every moment we spend together is just magical. As my mother calls it “un pedacito de cielo”, which is “a piece of heaven”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.andreaguth.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreaguth.fig/
