My college major is Computer Science and I expected to be a Designer.

Part I: The beginning

It was first year second semester in college that I know programming wasn’t for me. I remember sitting at my desk when my blockmate approached me and said “Riel, can you make the comics project for me and I’ll pay you,” from that moment I know this is the kind of work I will be happy doing and at the same time earn.

My doodle works way way back then

I continued crafting my doodle artworks and made more weird and adorable creatures during my free time, until one of my blockmate saw my sketchpad and said “You should take Fine Arts program instead of Computer Science,” his words sparked a bulb in my head.

Part II: The shift attempt

The following semester, I applied for shifting in Advertising Arts program at College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) building. I submitted four different kinds of artworks as my portfolio together with my letter of intent, and waited for two months until I got a call from the College and told me that the only program with available slots left is Painting. The person on the other line asked if I’ll be willing to take the course or not, it took me a while to answer and so I hanged up the phone for a while, consulted my mom, and made the decision to not continue my shifting application.

Few weeks passed, I enrolled for the next semester and prepared myself for the next 3 years of my college life. I have to endure it. I have to be a programmer.

Part III: Passion turns to business

I was doing pretty well in my second year of college. I worked hard to study every bits and pieces of my programming class so that I could pass all my exams. I tried my best to open the gates of love for my course, but I it ended up with me holding my pen and drawing scribbles on my notebook. I can’t disregard the fact that I’m in love with design and arts (how cheesy).

I made an outlet for my passion and put up a side-business while studying, with Php 2,000 ($40) borrowed from my mom, I bought plain colored shirts and a laundry pen. I doodled on these shirts and sold them to my true friends, blockmates and in bazaars.

A sample of doodled shirt I did for my blockmate.

After a year of designing shirts, I moved to customizing shoes which I enjoyed more since it allowed me to paint and add colors to it. I was able again to sell it to my very good friends who always believe in my talent (hahaha) and also to new customers.

One Piece inspired shoe design

Part IV: Reality vs. Passion

It was during thesis when I know I have to let go of my passion. I dropped my side-business and stopped designing shoes and even doodling. I focused on my remaining subjects, thesis, and my graduation. I had my internship in a Data Warehousing and Analytics company and was offered a full-time job months before my graduation. I took the offer and signed the contract. This is it, this is reality — I’m a Computer Science graduate and I’m going to be a programmer.

And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it. — Paulo Coelho

But it seems the universe and my passion conspired for a moment. Few days before my graduation, I got a call from an early news show asking if they could feature my shoes and shirts in one of their episodes, and I was suprised. I’ve totally forgotten my doodles and shoes but here it is again, my passion knocking on my front door steps. I eagerly accepted the feature, and it was a dream come true.

After the feature I decided to pursue my artsy career and so I backed out from my supposed to be programmer’s corporate life and hustled my way to designing shoes.

Part V: Shoes turned to websites

I designed shoes for a few months to sustain me during my unemployment days, until I joined three of my batchmates and co-founded a website services company where I became their web designer. Yes a web designer who doesn’t even know how to use Photoshop.

I was clueless of how I’ll get out of my brushes and acrylic paints, but the only thing I know is I have to let them go and venture to this unknown web designer thing. This will be my job, and I know I’ll be lovin’ it.

First web design practice using Photoshop

Be curious about the world in which you live. Look things up. Chase down every reference. Go deeper than anybody else — that’s how you’ll get ahead. -Austin Kleon

I spent days and nights browsing through the internet, practicing Photoshop, familiarizing myself with websites, and bookmarking websites that I find aesthetically beautiful (which I found mostly at www.awwwards.com) until I landed on my first actual project which was badly designed (since I’m a newbie) but was able to pull it off somehow on the third revision.

Design Proposal for my first actual project

The approved design (3rd revision)

My design patterns changed as I went in-depth of web design. I learned about wireframing, the manners in designing, mock ups, and User Experience which has led me to the big projects like designing for one of the well-known universities in the Philippines, One Redesign Manila (Advocacy website), a news agency in the country and some freelance design gigs.

Recent design works

Part VI: Designer to being a Speaker

This part of my story goes way far from my track of being a designer. I never imagined that being a designer will give me an opportunity to speak and share my knowledge to a huge crowd.

Last year 2016, I was invited as resource speaker by school organizations to talk about User Experience and my design journey. It was a fun experience to me. It was fulfilling to inspire the designers of tomorrow and exciting as well, for I get to meet people and exchange ideas with them.

First speaking engagement in 2016

We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?— Steve Jobs

I don’t have any plans of making a brand in public speaking, but I have plans of inspiring the aspiring designers and making an impact in their lives.

Part VII: Today

And today after three years of tugging war between design and programming I was finally able to be in a job that I know I will do best. I know I will love — Design. Aside from being a designer I am co-founding a company, Potatocodes (www.potatocodes.com) which we’ve started three years ago and also formed a start up last year, Fleepin (www.fleepin.com) a web app for travelers.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from having a college major in Computer Science to becoming a UI/UX Designer / Entrepreneur it is that, the way you start will not define how you run the race. The starting line will tell you how far you have to go from where you are to where you want to be. But the question is, will you stay or will you run? It all boils down to choices, and the choices you take will make the big difference in your life.

You have to grind as hard as you can. If you have to spend those nights designing, coding, or reading management books then do so — while everybody else is asleep, grind.

I failed all my classes and that’s why I’m winning. In hindsight, the fact that I was considered a failure for the first 18 years of my life has become the foundation of my success. — Gary Vaynerchuk

And lastly, you will start on your lowest point and that’s good. You will feel inferior and insecure about yourself, you’ll fail many times but remember that the best people at your field went the same struggles. You will start at the rock bottom and there’s no other way but to go up, and so swim up!

I got inspired with an article I read here at Medium and so I wrote my own design journey. If you have the same story or want to have a chat, you can message me at mhariellmosqueriola@gmail.com, while you can check my works at www.behance.net/mhariellriel :)

Have a great day everyone!