Tania Velin

I attribute my success to a strong combination of early creative curiosity, supportive mentorship, and a commitment to connecting design with real-world impact. My passion for visual creation and problem-solving began at a young age and was nurtured by a high school art teacher who made me aware of Graphic Design as a profession. Ultimately another high school art teacher held an immense impact on me at the time in terms of finding my own creative voice and to build upon my own innate curiosity and strive as a creative. Her classroom taught me to make the most of my studio time (which carried well into my college and early career) and best figure our how to inspire myself into bigger thinking and scaling of ideas through the ebbs and flows of the creative process.

At SUNY New Paltz, I was encouraged to bring my own ideas into academic projects, which opened doors to new opportunities and helped me build confidence in my creative voice. Pursuing a business minor further strengthened my ability to understand how design supports broader organizational goals, allowing me to approach my work with both creativity and strategic purpose.

The best career advice I've been told is to treat my career like a marathon, not a sprint. Even if it takes a while to build up momentum, you ultimately have the willpower to pick up speed at your own pace and slow down when it feels necessary. Without this pacing, burnout becomes common and ultimately not sustainable for growth in the long run.

My advice to young women entering the design industry is to own your ideas and find ways to be your authentic self as you begin to show up as an up and coming professional in your organization. Within companies, there are certain role models or female leaders that we might start to look up to and try to mirror their mannerisms and ways of working with the belief that it's either the best, or only way, that women can show up at work. However I've found the opposite to be true. The more I continued to show up authentically and unapologetically in the workplace, I've found myself more connected to the work I do and its purpose.

Additionally, I'd encourage staying open to a wide range of opportunities early in your career, even those that may not seem directly aligned with your long-term goals, as they often lead to unexpected growth, new skills, and meaningful direction. Above all, remain curious and willing to explore this field is constantly evolving, and that adaptability can make the journey both successful and enjoyable.

One of the biggest challenges and opportunities in the design field right now is the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, which was not a factor when I first started my career even just a few years ago. While it is reshaping how creative work is produced and executed, it also presents a powerful opportunity to expand what is possible in the design process. When used thoughtfully, AI can help accelerate ideation, explore concepts more efficiently, and test creative directions that may not have been feasible before. The key is learning how to leverage these tools in a way that enhances originality and strategic thinking while maintaining the human creativity and judgment that remain at the heart of strong design.

The values most important to me in both my work and personal life include creativity, innovation, continuous learning, collaboration, adaptability, curiosity, excellence, authenticity, and community engagement. These principles guide how I approach design challenges, work with others, and continue developing my skills in an evolving industry. Throughout my career, I have been involved with professional communities such as AIGA Upstate and employee resource groups at previous employers, which helped deepen my connection to the creative field and broaden my perspective. While I am not currently active in formal professional associations, I remain engaged through ongoing community involvement and creative initiatives that keep me connected to the design industry and its continuous evolution.