Meet Annette Casillas | Designer & Drafter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Annette Casillas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Annette, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle is a book I highly recommend to anyone. I wish I had read it sooner. It has helped me in many ways, in my personal and professional life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work mainly consists of spatial design, commercial design, or residential design. Being a lover of photography, art, and drawing as a child. I had a full circle moment when I realized I enjoyed the creative process of spaces. I enjoy piecing a project together. It was like finding the missing puzzle piece. And seeing the result is priceless.

The challenging part of this industry is the need to wear many different hats, the one I enjoy the most is handling IT. There are numerous moving parts involved, it’s up to you to be proactive. If you enjoy a dynamic environment, it can be rewarding. Now and then there were a few ten-hour workdays. That is something I had worked on, figuring out how to balance my work load.

What I would like people to take from my story is that we are constantly evolving beings. We change, we grow, and it’s nothing to be afraid of. If you truly feel that something is right for you, pursue it wholeheartedly. Don’t allow anyone to sway or convince you otherwise.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first stop would be a coffee shop, of course. I love Tierra Mia in Silverlake. Second, would be Breadlam in the arts district. Pick up a few sandwiches and head over to LA Historic Park for a picnic. After getting a little sun, head to one of my favorite spots Homage Brewery in Chinat town. (There is one in Pomona as well).

Afterward depending on the mood, I would say either a show at the Echo or the Palladium. Or a Club called Rhonda.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate this shout-out to my family, friends, and my boyfriend and best friend, Hugo. Since our college days, he has always been my number-one fan and someone I have looked up to for years. I am so proud of his accomplishments, especially all the obstacles he managed to push through, his constant determination, and his love for his art.

My mom has always inspired me to pursue my dreams, reminding me that having the right mindset is essential. Especially during those college days when it seemed almost impossible. I feel tremendous pride in my brother and sister, Aime and David, who are my original drawing buddies. They inspire me every day to strive for improvement. I also appreciate my uncle Joab, with whom I worked on my earliest projects. My dad has always encouraged me to get up and try again, not to be afraid of failure. Lastly, my friends have always been supportive whenever I wanted to try something new.

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to these incredible people who have supported me along my journey. Your unwavering kindness and love have made all the difference, and I truly feel fortunate to have you by my side. Thank you for being such a vital part of my life.

Website: https://msha.ke/annettepaulinadesigns/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annettepaulinaa/following/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annette-paulina-casillas/