Danielle Gamboa

Danielle Gamboa

Hometown: Puyallup, WA

Major/Minor: Visual Communications

What are you most proud of from your time at SPU?

I had the opportunity to experience a large variety of environments for art and design. I was able to work in spaces ranging from sculpture studios to bioengineering labs. I am very proud to have adapted to challenges I could have never imagined I’d come across when I chose this major (like learning to culture cells!).

What is a fun fact about you?

I love aquascaping, or building aesthetically pleasing fish tanks with plants. It’s like gardening underwater. 

What are some of your career goals? 

I hope to pursue a graduate degree that will allow me to work with new materials and contribute to complex design problems. For example, reimagining the ways we build, inspired by the beauty and environmental efficiency seen in nature. 

What is something you wish everyone knew about your major?

We learn a lot more than just graphic design! 

What is a piece of advice you’d like to leave for those still in school?

Start networking early! Start today if you can! I wish I would have started earlier. It’s way less scary than I expected it to be, and actually relieved a bit of stress to get to know what my career path can look like from different people. You don’t have to have all your ducks in a row to start, most people are really nice to undergrads too.