To close out Moorpark College’s Latinx Heritage Month events, artist Elisa Valdez spoke to students via Zoom meeting earlier this month. Valdez is the graphic designer and owner of the Latinx lifestyle brand, Chingona Vida.
Valdez had previously been on campus during the Latinx Heritage Month Kick-off Event on Sept. 20, 2023, where she had the opportunity to set up a booth to talk to students, as well as showcase the merchandise from her brand.
Valdez began the webinar on Oct. 9, by introducing herself and her connection to her brand. She stated that Chingona Vida represents her, her upbringing and the history of her family. Valdez loves to be able to share those experiences and connections with other people of Latinx heritage.
In addition to the connection to her heritage, Valdez also looked to other cultures for creative inspiration. She discussed how she explored her creativity and gave some ideas for how students can cultivate their own.
“I traveled to Paris and Amsterdam and Barcelona and was able to see different design styles and aesthetics,” Valdez commented, adding that students don’t have to go far to find inspiration for their creativity. Students can visit libraries, look at design books or websites or visit museums for inspiration or ideas.
Bailey Vazquez-Avery, a second-year student at Moorpark College, found this aspect of Valdez’s speech to be one of the more impactful moments.
“I love to write and I’ve recently gotten more into drawing, but a lot of times I get stuck,” Vazques-Avery said. “Either I can’t even start a piece or I don’t know what to do in the middle of [creating] it. I definitely want to try something new to get inspiration for my work. I think I’ll try some of the ideas [Valdez] mentioned.”
After speaking about the creative side of how Valdez built her business, she emphasized the need to invest in oneself and be connected to the world of design.
“Investing in your craft is going to make you a better designer because you will see what things are around you,” Valdez stated. “In order to be successful, you need to support yourself, work harder to make yourself better, and make mistakes– you’ll learn and grow from them.”
Vazquez-Avery also appreciated the reassurance that Valdez gave when it comes to making mistakes, as it’s something that a lot of younger people may be afraid of.
“I like that Elisa [Valdez] mentioned it. I know it’s something that I definitely think about whenever I’m doing something new, and I’m sure other people do too,” Vazquez-Avery stated. “So it’s nice to hear that she made her own mistakes but was able to learn from them and successfully build her own business.”
Overall, Valdez was thrilled to have the opportunity to speak to and connect with younger Latinx people. She ended by sharing what one of the most important aspects of her business is – to empower and include everyone.
These stories intentionally portrayed through Valdez’s work were not just about her, but about the shared experiences many Latinx people have and the universal connection many Latinx people share.
Click here to connect with the Chingona Vida Instagram page.
