Fresh out of Sav: Cristina Pelaez at MKDA – District

District Staff
August 15, 2019

Written by Cristina Pelaez, Photos by Nick Thomsen and Cristina Pelaez

Since I moved to New York and started working, my life has been very exciting and fast-paced. In my free time, I am constantly discovering new things in the city, while at work I am faced with a new project, task or challenge every day.

Something that challenged me when I first started working was designing in AutoCad, a design software that I never had any formal training in. I’ve been able to learn it as I go by referencing tools from similar programs I’m more familiar with, looking up tutorials online and asking a lot of questions. It feels good to realize that I’ve been able to learn so much in such a short amount of time, all thanks to the patience and attention of my coworkers and my openness to receive these new experiences as lessons.

I’m very proud of my fearlessness throughout this very new and unfamiliar time because it has allowed me to stay confident and remember that SCAD prepared me for exactly what I’m doing. Apart from the technical skills that I need in the studio, my time at SCAD also taught me the importance of professionalism and how to handle myself in the workplace. With the help of some amazing professors who were always there to give me advice about interior design and life in general, I have been able to smoothly transition into this new stage of my life.

Thanks to the life SCAD gave me, I am now able to believe in myself, my creativity and my ability to take things as they come. I start every morning with a productive and positive attitude that reflects what I experience in the office every day.

The office is very energetic and open, like my coworkers who are always helpful and encouraging. Every week, multiple vendors visit us to talk about new materials or developments in the industry, and they always bring food and wine for everyone. It creates such a fun environment in the office and gives us so many opportunities to not only stay up to date on industry trends and advances but also to talk and really get to know each other. The company also plans out work trips and events that most of my coworkers take part in.

Overall, my work life has played a huge role in making my post college experience so great; it has introduced me to really cool, creative people and given me the opportunity to do fulfilling work that I truly enjoy.