hearing the reaction from the audience, and later that
day seeing them across billboards on the highway
and on the walls of Apple Stores. "It was a unique
experience," Angela shares.
As Angela looks back on her career, beginning at
Palmer Trinity, she describes her Art classes as being
"the most influential," however, the most notable
experiences she recalls were the relationships she
developed with her teachers. During Angela's junior
year she went through one of the most difficult
times in her life when she lost her mother. Angela
describes her teachers as her "biggest cheerleaders"
during a challenging time. Angela shares, "their
support, and those of my friends and family, was
immensely valuable during this difficult transition."
Angela is also thankful for the lessons she learned
from being a part of the soccer team. She explains,
"my work requires a lot of collaboration and team
driven goals, and these are skills I learned by being a
part of the high school soccer team."
Currently, Angela is the design lead at Google
focusing on the Assistant, a virtual personal
assistant available primarily on mobile and smart
home devices. In her role she has managed
designers, as well as led design efforts. She also
focuses on additional areas, such as hiring and
educating budding designers about the inner
workings of the industry. As a manager, she mentors
her team in the areas of career growth and design
direction. As a designer, on the other hand, she
collaborates with engineers, researchers, and
product managers to create delightful experiences
for users. Once the design and implementation are
complete, the product launches and millions of
Google users get to experience it first-hand.
Angela would like to motivate and inspire young
artists by sharing some advice, "Don't be afraid!
I've heard so many times from parents, and even
students, the fear of becoming a 'starving artist.'
"I think any student looking to pursue a degree in
design, who worries about this, should familiarize
themselves with the vast array of companies and
industries that need them. The demand for designers
is huge, so don't be afraid to follow your dreams."
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