Creative.6 - Suelen Viana
A true creative analyst for your next project.
1. Introduction
Greeting cosmonauts! How have you been? Hopefully, as tranquil as a still lake on a windless day.
Well, a very bright and young creative person is passing through here today. She has not only recently graduated in architecture but is also currently going through a postgraduate degree in English.
Before being the founder of her own marketing agency and someone that is very dedicated to her academic life, she had one particular interest that was the reason we met! Suelen is very passionate about reading in the exact same proportion that she is protective of her shelves with perfectly organized books, she has a literature podcast and that project immediately caught my attention before we first started working together.
Ever since then, we have collaborated on multiple marketing projects and Suelen is always able to surprise with her creative solutions to many different problems. Whether it is a UX/UI, graphic design, branding, or copywriting project, she fearlessly delivers while also helping in the management of the project as a whole.
Enough from me though, let's meet Suh!
2. Interview
Suelen, tell our readers a little bit about you. Where do you come from, how old are you and what languages do you speak?
My name is Suelen Luiza Viana, I'm 23 years old. I was born and raised in São Paulo, specifically Guarulhos. After the passing of my father when I was 8 years old, I moved to a city in the countryside where I spent hours playing The Sims. I always enjoyed studying and consistently achieved top grades. At the age of 14, my mother enrolled me in various courses such as English, computer science, administration, and web design. After completing these courses at the age of 17, I was invited to become a teacher at the institution where I studied. At the age of 18, I entered the Architecture and Urbanism program at UNILA, which is bilingual. During my time there, I learned Spanish for 2 years and had various classes with professors from different parts of Latin America.
Can you share some thoughts about your academic journey? What led you to study architecture and how was that experience?
I have always enjoyed studying and have been very curious to understand how things work. I had many doubts about which college to choose, I remember changing my choice of course at least twice a month. I even considered medicine for a while, which was crazy. Architecture came as a surprise. It was a course that a friend wanted to pursue and she talked daily about what she was excited to study. I ended up falling in love with it too. It's a career that offers various paths to follow, such as game design, environmental design, and interior design, among many others. What captivated me about the course, in particular, was the fact that I could work anywhere in the world and for anyone in the world. Studying architecture was one of the most challenging experiences of my life. It's a very complex course that demands a lot from students, but I can't see myself choosing another path because it has brought me to where I am today.
I had the opportunity to follow the development of your extremely inspiring thesis. Can you share the experience of researching the subject and writing the thesis with our followers? What were some of the challenges you faced and why are libraries such an important and essential place for cities?
My thesis is about the construction of a Park Library in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil. In the beginning, I had to research the history of libraries throughout the centuries, and I believe that was the best part so far. As I mentioned before, I am very curious, and learning about something I am passionate about was extremely gratifying. I was able to understand how reading was once distant from the reality of ordinary people and how we have been making reading or access to reading more inclusive for so many people. The idea of a Park Library is to combine a study and reading environment with a space for the community to gather. It is crucial to consider new technologies and new formats of reading, such as audiobooks and e-readers. In other words, it is necessary to create an environment that encourages readers and students to leave their homes and spend quality time with friends, reading and discussing books. Libraries are much more than just places for storing books; they are cultural hubs and spaces for knowledge-sharing and community engagement.
When did you realize that in addition to your passion for the architecture field, you also had a deep interest in communication and design? How was the process of figuring out that you enjoyed working on design projects?
Everything is communication. Architecture and Design are forms of communication. In architecture, I learned to communicate what I wanted through architectural projects. I also learned that it is a beautiful process to bring something from just an idea in your head into the world. I stumbled into the world of design unintentionally. During the pandemic, I became interested in social media and started studying more about it, including learning design tools. As a result, I created an Instagram account to talk about books, which grew rapidly. I started creating artwork to recommend books and discuss them. In the end, I believe that creating that Instagram account led me to where I am now, or rather, it was the beginning of everything.
Within the communication field, is there one particular area that you enjoy more and is eager to become more specialized?
Currently, I believe it is about finding a balance between communication in video format and static formats. All kinds of information are adapting to quick videos with concise information, but is this really the best way to convey information or ideas? How do we make someone stop their automatic behavior and redirect their attention to a text, article, or even a carousel post? It is something that I am trying to discover.
When it comes to branding, why is it important for companies to take the design process seriously?
I believe that understanding what the client wants to convey is the first step. Being empathetic and a good listener. Embracing the project as if it were your own company, means dedicating yourself to it as you would with a personal project. I believe that many things would be different in the world of brand creation if we put ourselves more in the shoes of others.
Now let's talk about literature! Tell us about your collection, how many books do you own and what are some of your favorite reading genres?
Honestly, the last time I counted it was over 290, but now there must be a little more. Currently, I don't have a preferred genre; I like to read a little bit of everything. Although I enjoy fantasy a lot, I believe I have read very little of that genre, aside from Harry Potter many times, but that doesn't count. I am very fond of thrillers and mystery, and my favorite author is the renowned Stephen King. My favorite book of his is 'Pet Sematary,' and the second is 'IT.' I am starting to venture into Japanese fiction books; last year I read '1Q84,' and I think about it every day. Murakami is incredible, and I hope to read more of his works.
Hey, be honest with us, we really need to know, did you research how to build a library because sooner or later you will run out of space on your shelves?
I just don't have control when it comes to buying books. It's a problem to have so many unread books on the shelf.
Can you share some details about your podcast project with us?
I am changing the theme of my podcast a bit. Previously, I used to talk about self-help. Now, I want to focus more on books as a theme. I believe that there is a lack of podcasts on this topic in Brazil. I want to encourage, even if just a little, the habit of reading in people. Talking about books that I love may inspire someone else to read them as well. Reading is essential for our personal development and, consequently, for creativity. Therefore, I want to share with people what books mean to me in order to encourage them to read as well.
Paperback, hardcovers, or e-books, which one is your favorite and why?
Even with all the technology, I still prefer physical books. There is no better feeling than holding a book in your hands and being able to annotate your favorite quotes.
This might be a tough question but could you name your top 3 authors in the latest years?
It's a tough question, but the first three that came to my mind were:
Stephen King
Haruki Murakami
Neal Shusterman
We just received a broadcast and we have been enlisted to land on Mars in order to spread human culture on a new planet but the astronauts can only take one book with them, which one would it be for you?
That's a very difficult question. But the first one that comes to mind is 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. It is probably one of the best books I have ever read in my life.
Have you ever considered writing your own book? If so, what would it be about?
Many times. Most likely, it would be in the fantasy genre, about a distant world inhabited by magical beings. No more spoilers...
It is a sunny and beautiful Saturday where you feel full of energy and in complete peace. What would you be doing on this day?
I would be in a park, reading a good book.
3. Contact
LinkedIn Profile
suelenluizah45@gmail.com
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