Meet Tatiana Khoury | Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tatiana Khoury and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tatiana, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Viewing something as a risk is a psychological choice. My perspective on risk is that it’s a challenge that you were meant to endure for one reason or another. In my mind, I subconsciously replace the word “risk” with “challenge.” I view it as an unsolved problem, a challenge calling my name to be resolved. The beauty of being in a predicament and having my back against the wall is that I’m forced to solve a problem. This fuels me because I find myself to be most creative when I am faced with a problem to solve.

The word risk implies that you may lose something. But I think that if you do lose something in the process of facing a challenge, that thing wasn’t meant for you or it was a part of a larger picture. What you “lose” is what you need to shed in order to prepare you for a new opportunity.

When faced with the opportunity for risk, regardless of the situation, bottom line, it is an opportunity. Even if the result of a risk isn’t “rewarding” I know that the middle part is the most valuable. The journey, the process, the in-between is the reward. A lot of times, we give up out of fear or because things are uncomfortable. I have learned to find comfort in the ambiguity of the in between, not just with the result.

Viewing something as a risk is a psychological choice. Therefore, you decide what is a risk or not. Whether to follow the road well traveled or go against the grain and pave your own path. It’s up to you whether you proceed in fear or with openness…

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Hi! I am Tatiana Khoury and I am a graphic designer, with a focus on branding and packaging. Ever since I was in elementary school, I have always had a passion for everything to do with art. Whether it was modeling a dish with air dry clay, or painting a self-portrait, I always enjoyed the process of creating something. But no one ever really told me that I could make a career out of it. My love and appreciation for art started with my elementary school art teacher Mrs. Jay, who allowed us to explore our creativity freely through different materials and methods. On weekends, my grandma and I would paint or make collages together. Oil painting has always been her biggest passion. Through her, I gained an up-close perspective of art. Whenever someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always answered that I would be a teacher, a writer, or a therapist. But the truth is I could never fully picture myself in those careers. Something always felt off and I wasn’t convinced that I would love those jobs and be happy doing it for the rest of my life.

During my junior year of high school, I took a graphic design elective as a requirement and was surprised to find that I actually enjoyed it. I fell in love with the ability to apply my creativity in an innovative and fun way. Before that, I didn’t know much about graphic design—or that it was a career.

Choosing art as a career to pursue was always in the back of my head, but I never allowed myself to feed into the idea. In community college, I took a graphic design course which confirmed that deep down it was the right career path for me. After two years of community college, I went to ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena to pursue graphic design.

Within the world of graphic design, I specialize in branding and packaging. To me, graphic design is like a collage of multiple media. Through it, I can express my love for art, by combining my paintings, illustrations, photography, and typography all into one composition. Graphic design motivates me because it has the ability to impact people. I love when people can resonate with my work. Even if that means simply trying a new brand of pasta or inspiring someone to pursue their dreams. Graphic design is essential in everyday life. From massive billboards to a clothing label, it’s something we can’t escape or live without. It’s everywhere and I think that’s the beauty of it.

In terms of my design process, I love researching and then synthesizing my research into a strategic design that tells a story. Whether it’s packaging, a logo, or a pamphlet, every medium is just a tangible vessel of a story. My purpose is to connect with people through storytelling and for me, that comes through the details of a design. When looking at designs around me, I am always drawn to those that are thoughtful and leave no detail unaccounted for. When I design, I approach it in the same way, with intention. Carefully crafting every detail in a way that is so seamless that you don’t even realize how it was designed. I think that’s what sets me apart from others, my ability to problem solve in a thoughtful and empathetic approach. Embracing the process and exploring all angles thoroughly to find the right one. Through my design process, I am constantly asking myself why. Why this typeface? Why this tone of voice? Why would this resonate with the target audience? I always push myself to find the most strategic answer because nothing should be without reason. Every design choice should be intentional and connected to the research, target audience, and design goals. If you were able to visually see the thinking behind the design, it would be an organized spider web connecting each design choice to a rationale. I don’t feel satisfied with my designs until every connection on the web has been deliberately intertwined.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In the San Fernando Valley I would start off with a sweet latte from House Roots Coffee or a lavender latte at Barclays Coffee and Tea. I would definitely recommend checking out The Open Book Northridge or Topanga if you like to read and Game n’ Grounds in Chatsworth if you enjoy board games and coffee. And on Sundays I would highly recommend driving out to LA and checking out Miya Miya shawarma at Smorgasburg in ROW DTLA.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
School has always been of importance in my life and therefore a lot of my story stems from having amazing teachers who constantly supported and inspired me throughout my journey. From my first art teacher Mrs. Jay to Mr. Salazar, my first graphic design teacher and Professor Antonich Matic who deepened my love for art history. All of whom played a role in helping me find my passion.

I would like to thank all of my wonderful teachers at ArtCenter for providing an abundance of wisdom and molding me into the person I am today. I’d like to specifically thank Allison Goodman, Dan Hoy, Annie Huang Luck, Ming Tai, Monica Schlaug, Gerardo Herrera and Elaine Alderette. All of your efforts do not go unnoticed and inspire me to one day be as amazing of a teacher for others as you have been to me.

I’d also like to thank my mentors Emilie Hahn and Nidhi Singh Rathore for their constant support and invaluable insights and advice. And of course my family who have always stood by me in my endeavors. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for your sacrifices and setting an example of what it looks like to work hard and achieve your goals.

Website: https://tatianakhoury.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-khoury-7b761520a