Meet a Hodger: Amber Ekizoglu
Our Creative Services palette is expanding, and Amber Ekizoglu, who has been with us for six months as a contractor, is officially here full-time. As our newest junior graphic designer, Amber loves bringing ideas to life through visuals to help tell a story. She was raised in the Philippines, but came stateside to become a graduate of VCUarts in its graphic design program. When she’s not knocking out her TBR list or trying the latest TikTok recipe, she’s creating thoughtful designs that connect with people, whether it’s through a campaign, a publication, or a bold piece of print work.
If you haven’t had the chance to, Meet Amber.
Why did you decide on a career in the creative field?
Growing up, I was very shy. Art and design became my main way of expressing myself, especially when it was hard to express through words. It felt really natural, and I’ve grown to love it through the years.
What are the biggest misperceptions about working in graphic design?
One of the biggest misconceptions is that graphic design is only about making things look pretty or good. I see that as a part of it, but it’s not the whole thing. Graphic design is about communication and making sure that the ideas and the emotion you want expressed is being communicated clearly.
What’s your favorite Richmond eatery?
I love Asian food, so I’m always out and about. I love Crazy Thai, especially the drunken noodles and basil-fried rice. There’s also one a little outside of the city, but more in Midlothian, called Yewon, a Korean restaurant. I always try and go there when I’m in the area.
Where do you go to get inspired?
I love going to bookstores for inspiration. I love looking through cookbooks. It’s exciting to see how they mesh text, image and different information. Book covers are awesome, too. I also look on Instagram. I follow a variety of designers from all around the world and it’s interesting to see how people include different cultural experiences and backgrounds into their designs.
What advice do you have for young people who want to get into a creative career?
Just really explore and do everything. Don’t limit yourself to just one thing. Throughout the years, I’ve tried different forms of art to find the ones I really enjoy. It turns out the ones I least expected to like are the ones I’ve really loved. Originally, I was thinking I wanted to do all digital, but now I love print work and the physicality of that work.
Casey Prentice
A self-proclaimed organizational junkie and data geek who confesses to a secret desire to be a professional organizer, Casey enjoys account management, writing, editing and digital content strategy. Her agency work has helped clients like Virginia’s Community Colleges, VCU, ODU and Virginia DMV.
Leave a Reply