World's Greatest Internship

You should pick me becuase

I believe I am the best candidate for WGI because I am extremely hardworking and possess the qualities of a creative thinker and problem solver. Being an immigrant and frequent traveler has exposed to cultures that are vastly different from each other as well as experience that can allow me to quickly adapt to completely new environments.Currently, I am an intern at [Puncture Design](http://puncture.co/), where I have contributed in the design decisions of multiple print and digital assets for various projects. My previous experiences include being an in-house designer for the York University Student Centre, where I collaborated with the team of designers to create 3 separate [branding strategies](https://holdenkao.com/project/york-university-student-rebrand) and assets for the organization, which are all being used for the 59,300 students and staff on campus. In the summer of 2016, a couple of friends and I decided to come together and create [Ignite Magazine](https://holdenkao.com/project/ignite-magazine). Ignite is all about telling genuine stories of people and understanding their respective industries from their own perspectives. We went from writing, interviewing, designing, taking photographs, editing, printing and [launching](https://www.ignitemagazine.ca/post/what-a-night-it-was) the magazine within 3 months with a team of 5 people and it was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had. Even though we are all pursuing our own paths, it was a valuable experience that has taught me so much about the importance of communication and teamwork.Whether it be individual tasks or collaborative works, I’m always eager to learn and contribute my value with an open mindset. With the skills I have acquired from my past experiences alongside a positive and solid work ethic, I believe I that am a great candidate that can navigate the different elements of this role.

Why are you interested in this opportunity?

What are you looking to gain from an opportunity like this?

What would be your goals after completing this engagement?

4. How did you hear about wgi?

Share an example of a time you were most motivated and a time you were most demotivated.

In your opinion, what creates a great culture at a company?

What brands and companies do you admire and why?

What do you do to stay sharp and improve your craft?

What’s your favorite quote?

10. If you could solve one problem in the world what would it be?

You should select me because

Why are you interested in this opportunity?

What are you looking to gain from an opportunity like this?

What would be your goals after completing this engagement?

4. How did you hear about wgi?

Share an example of a time you were most motivated and a time you were most demotivated.

In your opinion, what creates a great culture at a company?

What brands and companies do you admire and why?

What do you do to stay sharp and improve your craft?

What’s your favorite quote?

10. If you could solve one problem in the world what would it be?

What's the most courageous thing you've ever done?

As a multidisciplinary designer, I am constantly looking for ways to improve my skills. I have been searching for an opportunity that combines my skill sets as a [designer](https://www.instagram.com/grafik_deezign/), [illustrator](https://www.instagram.com/loner.boi/), and entrepreneur in a role that can allow me to grow and learn from amazing teams of people who have shaped the creative industry. I want to challenge myself with working with different groups of people, not only from designers but engineers, writers, strategists and directors alike. I want to experience and immerse myself in diverse cultures and work in cities that I have dreamed about visiting. The possibility of experiencing this internship with other talented individuals not only excites me but scares me at the same time, and I believe this is a feeling you get when you truly want something worth fighting for.

How are creativity and innovation related?

From my past work experiences, what I have learned is that design is so much more than creating visual assets to solve solutions. It is also about managing relationships and having the ability to communicate your thoughts. Being a visual learner myself, I hope to hone in on my communication skills while learning more about the design industry. So much of what I learn in design school is all about accumulating fundamental design skills yet I know very little about professional aspects of design, which is a huge portion of the industry. I look forward to not only applying my design skills, but learning about how projects are managed, how to pitch ideas, and adopting business oriented communication skills.

Why do companies need clarity and creativity?

If I had the privilege to embark on the World's Greatest Internship, my goals after completing the experience would be to share the journey with as many like-minded individuals who are also looking for ways to better improve their practices. > “If you want people to know about what you do and the things you care about, you have to share.” > > [Austin Kleon](http://austinkleon.com/show-your-work/) I find sharing my work, whether through social media, or by talking about it has been a great way for me to communicate with my peers and this not only helps me gain insight on how I can help others improve, it is also a great learning opportunity for myself. Sharing my experiences through personal projects or workshops not only provides a chance for others to know about this amazing program, it is also a way for me to document my journey along the way. My other goal would be to complete my undergraduate degree after completing WGI. In my opinion, studying in a four year program puts a lot of pressure on the students to acquire their diploma within a restrictive time frame without gaining enough experience prepare us for the work field. I find the intention of taking time off to gain real world experience extremely valuable and would love for the chance to develop these experiences.

You have 30 minutes of free time. What do you do with it?

I first found out about WGI on Instagram right after the applications closed last year while browsing on the app. It found it so fascinating being able to follow Whitney and Maddy’s journey as they made their way through each of the studios around the world. The ways they documented their learnings were just as much insightful and fun to see. Seeing them learn and grow together as designer and writers motivated me to work harder and achieve my goals.

What is one risky and bold goal in life you have? Or, if you could dedicate your life to solving one problem, what would it be?

A time I felt the least motivated to work and create was actually not that long ago. Having survived the [longest university strike in Canadian history](https://www.macleans.ca/education/how-the-longest-canadian-university-strike-in-history-changed-life-at-york/), also came with its repercussions. To make up for dropped courses due to the 3 month strike, I aimed to take on 33 credits, commuting 1.5 hours each way to my classes (as my family decided to move again this new year) while juggling a part-time job. Turns out it was a terrible idea and it was one of the most difficult things I have had to balance in my life. I went into the winter semester with a strong determination to give everything I had to each task but came out more exhausted than ever. Even though it took everything ounce of my energy keep my head above the water, I now know what my limits are and what I am capable of handling in terms of work load. On the other hand, I am most motivated to work when I have an idea that excites me and once that idea sets in motion, I will want to give it my all. An example of this is with my [Loner Boi](https://holdenkao.com/project/loner-boi) Project, which began as a creative outlet for my love of illustration and making things by hand. What started as a passion project to share with friends and family and has now grown into an online shop I manage on the side, selling my artworks as printed goods. I’ve learned how to do everything myself, from manufacturing enamel pins, screen-printing sweaters and laser cutting acrylic key chains. I find it incredibly rewarding to see people appreciate my work and sharing it with others and hope to one day create work that can impact people on an even larger scale.

Explain your creative process

A company that demonstrates great culture can be felt just by interacting with the people who work there, and I think a company that values growth and development cultivates passionate individuals. We grow by learning from others, therefore having a space where everyone can articulate their own thoughts by communicating openly is extremely important. I also believe that at the core of every successful companies are incredible managers/directors that exhibits strong leadership. Having leaders that have a clear vision of what the company’s missions and values are so that you can also align your values your work is essential to creating a long lasting relationship between the organization and its employees.

What is the best advice that you have been given?

A company that I look up to is [Gretel](https://gretelny.com/), not only through the work that they produce but the way they approach their design process. By digging deep to understand their client’s objective and audience, they are able to create projects that stand out of the crowd. Nike By You is a project I really admire because of it’s use of typography and graphic imagery to demonstrate playful qualities of the Nike brand. It is a project that speaks strongly to Gretel’s philosophy of creating work that happens at the “intersection of opposing forces” by showing the technology behind Nike’s shoes while keeping a fun and creative aesthetic. A brand that inspires to create would be [Away](https://www.awaytravel.com/ca/en), co-founded by Jen Rubio and Steph Korey. They were able to build a direct-to-consumer luggage brand that demonstrates quality through thoughtful design and strategy. What really struck out from their story was that when the suitcases sold more than the manufacturers could keep up with, they problemed solved by designing a coffee table book that would serve as a gift card to allow the consumers to come back and re-order with. This showed me that no matter what obstacles may stand in your way, there are always solutions to solve them so long as we are able to face them. Success doesn’t come without hard work and both Gretel and Away are able to demonstrate ambition by creating connections between the brand(s) that they create with their audience through powerful storytelling.

What is your definition of creativity?

I am constantly learning new knowledge by reading, listening to podcasts and attending different events. I try to attend different design events and conferences, most recently [Uenoland](https://ueno.land/), where I can meet other amazing creatives from different types of fields. I am a pretty self-driven person so I tend to motivate myself by learning for new ways to do things, even if the results end up somewhat the same. My design process is as much research driven as it is with creative exploration and inspiration for me can come from the smallest of things. I am currently listening to [How I Built This](https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this) during my commutes to work and rotating on my night stand I have [Two-Dimensional Man](https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/two-dimensional-man_9781419724152/) by Pauh Sahre and [Designing Design](https://www.lars-mueller-publishers.com/designing-design) by Kenya Hara. During my free time you can find me drawing, screen-printing and searching looking for the next design event to attend.

What 10 songs are on your favorite playlist right now?

> "It's through mistakes that you actually can grow. You have to get bad in order to get good." > > Paula Scher This quote really resonates with me because it really speaks to my journey as a designer and entrepreneur. Everyone has made mistakes in making decisions in their lives, but it is so important that we take those mistakes apart, figure out what went wrong and learn from those mistakes so we can avoid repeating them in the future!

How do you want people to remember you?

Have you been convicted of a crime and/or a felony? If so, what was the offense? State the city, country, and date.

Holden

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