Yen Azzaro shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Yen, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I try to go to the gym or do stretching at home first thing in the morning. Knowing that I’m going to spend the bulk of my day drawing reminds me to move my body before I’m stationary. Then I respond to clients and take care of administrative items before I dig into the projects on my roster.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I have been working freelance for the better part of the last 15 years. Besides a couple stints working in education communication, illustration commissions and traveling graphic recording, the practice of drawing and writing what people say in real time, has been the bulk of my commercial business. Graphic recorders are a unique role at conferences and meetings and I’ve been fortunate to be in spaces where solution-seeking work is being done for lots of vital topics like maternal health, mobility and transportation, education, food access, and racial and social justice.
This summer was particularly busy. I just wrapped five different projects that required nearly 100 illustrations for posters, video animations, and image libraries. It was a challenging period but I’m really proud of the work I did for organizations working in services for domestic violence survivors, university student programs, and a technical education initiative.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The onset of Covid really tested who I was as an artist and namely, a person of color.
In March 2020, all the projects I had through June were cancelled. It was really eye-opening to see how precarious my freelance practice was and how hopeless I felt without creative collaborations. Not only was my income dried up, I recognized the energy I thrive on from being sought after for my skills.
Additionally, I was seeing images of anti-Asian hate and violence and it sparked an unfamiliar cocktail of rage and empathy. I funneled that into a ALTAR|ALTER, a performance and art installation that was made possible from with The Graduate Hotel Sweet Dreams Residency. I showed my piece at the Ann Arbor location and later Roosevelt Island in New York. Seeing others take in this piece helped me to work through the anger I felt towards the endemic of violence that was preying upon people that look like me in this country.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You will be paid your worth. I didn’t know about graphic recording 15 years ago. When the career counselor at University of Michigan Stamps School of Art & Design told me he thought I would be good at drawing what people are saying on the spot, I was bewildered and nervous. But here I am, years later, thriving at an especially niche practice that has brought me to dozens of cities working with some of the most talented practitioners. I owe John Luther my gratitude for having the foresight to know I would not only be good at it, but a career that is lucrative and personally rewarding.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I like to think so. I’m pretty approachable and friendly. I like to believe that my practice and my life is joyful because I enjoy working in community, no matter how far that community may be. I catch up with clients the way I do with friends during calls. I stay professional in social and client circles. When I’m working it’s not necessarily a “9-5” scenario and I like that flexibility.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing?
I won’t ever regret passing the job that didn’t feel right in my gut. Sometimes a personality of project doesn’t align with your goals and values and no amount of money will be able to change that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.YenAzzaro.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yen.azzaro/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yenazzaro/
Image Credits
Yen Azzaro
Mural – Apt 122
