Chit Chat is your chance to mix 'n mingle– virtually– with movers and shakers in the Fashion Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design, and Entertainment industries.
Leaving his home country of Mexico, where he worked on window displays, FIDM Visual Communications Grad Rafael Sainz came to The States to realize his dreams of getting an education and becoming a US citizen.
Now the Assistant Manager of Visuals at Neiman Marcus in Las Vegas, Sainz is proof that there’s no limit but the sky!
1. How did you learn of FIDM?
RS: I was still living in Mexico, and I saw in a magazine that FIDM was one of the top schools for Visual Communications. I was already working on window displays in Mexico City but I wanted to learn more and take my career further. After seeing that article, FIDM was my top choice.
2. In what ways did FIDM help you succeed in your industry?
RS: I really believe in education, and I think FIDM helped guide me to figure out what I really wanted to do. One of my favorite classes was Trend Analysis. I still use everything I learned in that class to this day.
3. How did you land the role of Assistant Manager of Visuals at Neiman Marcus?
RS: I was living in San Francisco but I wanted to move back to Las Vegas because I just missed it so much! I found out about an opening in the Visuals Department at Neiman Marcus so I applied and got the job. After only a year I was promoted to Assistant Manager. At that time they told me that in two years I would be promoted to Manager and have my own store!
4. Awesome! So when is the two years up for you?
RS: Actually, it’ll be this September! I’ve got a lot of things in store for this year, don’t I?
5. What is most rewarding about what you do?
RS: When I hear comments about my window, people saying “Wow!” The mannequins and the whole display should inspire the customers. It should inspire the employees too. It’s nice for them to come in and love the displays and the windows.
6. So what’s next for you?
RS: I’d love to mentor. I’ve got a ton of ideas for the next year and there’s so much I want to do. But I’ll have to tell you about all that later!
FC: We definitely look forward to hearing all about it, Rafael!
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