Her Story
About Caroline
I have been working in design for about 15 years and am currently the graphic designer for Rip Curl, a surf brand based out of Australia, handling the North American markets including the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. My work involves graphic marketing across print, digital, catalogs, bus and car wraps, website content, photo shoots, and event signage and promotional items for major events like the Eddie Eichel Big Wave Invitational. I hold an associate degree in graphic, multimedia and web design from New England Institute of Technology in Rhode Island, completed around 2014, and have taken continuing education classes at RISD including Idea Lab. I moved to California about 10 years ago to pursue work in the surf industry.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Caroline
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would attribute my success to my passion and my drive. I want to continue to learn and improve myself on my own with my work. I have a passion for design outside of my day-to-day job. Creativity touches all points in my life. Being genuine and authentic, I really put my face forward and what I like to bring to the table versus trying to take what's out there and mash it together. Having a strong point of view is helpful.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My dad always told me not to wait to do things, to do them now, don't wait till you're older. Take the risk and experience it now. I moved out here about 10 years ago following that advice, and it has paid off tenfold by following my heart and doing what I wanted to do.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be your authentic self. If you're passionate about it or find some personal meaning behind it, that shows through your work. Take certain career paths to grow but always keep something you love in your heart to aspire to. Do what you have to do but at the same time always be true to yourself and things that are important to you and follow that feeling.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The ever-changing nature of design and visuals, things moving so fast with trends and the internet being immediate. Keeping up with stuff while also keeping everything on brand. It's the largest challenge but also the most exciting part, being able to explore more and try new things.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Being authentic and genuine. In my line of work creating visuals and marketing, I am the customer or my ideal person that I would market to, which is really helpful in my day-to-day workflow. Being in a space that I feel is authentically myself to be able to produce my best work is my biggest value.
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