Q&A With Dexter Karyuk, Junior Graphics Designer
Are you in the Animation program? Do you have a lot to balance between school and work? Are you curious about hobbies that have helped someone make creative connections? If so, take a look at Dexter’s Q&A! If you haven’t already checked out their Day in The Life on our Instagram, don’t worry! We sat down and picked his brain about working at the SSU, animation and creative passions! Take a look 👀✨
Q: How long have you worked at the SSU, and what’s been your favourite part so far?
A: “I’ve been working here for a little under two years now! My first role was working as a Customer Service Representative (CSR), last year. Now I’m a Junior Designer for the Marketing team! My favorite part has definitely been all the friends I’ve made and wonderful people I’ve met that I wouldn’t have had the chance to get to know otherwise!”
Q: Tell us about yourself & your first role at the SSU
A: “I am a first year animation student, and my role at the SSU is Junior Designer! As part of the Marketing team, my biggest tasks are usually making posters and promotion for SSU events, but we also design flyers, promotion for the Board of Directors, and SSU merch!”
Q: What was your first impression on your first day in the role?
A: “I was really excited on my first day! Getting a run down of how things work, I really got the impression that I would get to have an active influence on campus. Seeing mine and my coworkers posters as I walk around it’s really fun knowing who was responsible for them. I also really knew that it would be a great, welcoming environment to learn and improve my skills through my time here.”
“I love working with other people to help make things happen that we couldn’t achieve alone.”
- Dexter Karyuk
Q: What does a typical day working at the SSU look like for you?
A: “The day usually starts off with looking through the SSU website and our internal calendars to see everything that’s going on at the SSU. From there, I swap to working on whatever task I’ve got assigned for the day! Usually, that involves looking up references and inspiration to get started. Followed by iterating until I get to a design that I’m happy with. I also show my work to our manager or coworkers to get their opinions and feedback!”
Q: What’s something you’ve learned about yourself or about life while working at the SSU?
A: “I’ve learned how much we’re all connected to each other. Just within the SSU, I get to work with all the different departments to help make their initiatives seen and understood. Then beyond that, I’ve seen how the SSU partners with local artists, businesses, and with the college itself to make our student experience better. It’s really opened my eyes to the ways our community is interlinked and how we can uplift eachother by working together.”
Q:What program are you in and why did you choose it?
A: “I’m currently in the Animation program! Cartoons have always been such a huge part of my life and something really meaningful to me. They helped give me an outlet and comfort during a lot of hard times growing up. I really want to be able to give that same comfort to the kids of the future by helping tell new stories by working in animation. I’ve also always been a very collaborative person, so being part of the animation pipeline is something I really enjoy and want to pursue!”
Q: Has this program changed the way you see yourself or your future in any way?
A: “Before college, I didn’t know that many other artists personally, so being surrounded by artists of all kinds of styles and mindsets has been really inspirational. My friends and classmates have helped me realize how much I love art because I get so inspired seeing their incredible work. I want to make them proud because they’ve pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t think were possible before my time at Sheridan.”
“The industry right now can be a little concerning, between the general flow of business and questions like AI, but this program has helped open my eyes to the ways I can apply my skills and helped me feel more confident about my future as an illustrator and animator.” - Dexter Karyuk
Q:What’s one thing you wish you’d known before starting your program?
A: To not overbook myself! Sometimes I’m a little overzealous about getting involved in new projects, hobbies and activities. It can be really fun, but sometimes I cant fully commit my effort the way I’d like to because I just have too much I’ve promised to other people. Focusing on giving myself time to rest and recharge, whether that’s with a night in or by doing something just for myself, is something I’m learning to prioritize as I go through college.
Q: Have figure skating and/or gaming changed how you approach your art/creativity? If so, how?
Q: What are you passionate about outside of Sheridan?
A: “I definitely think so! Engaging in hobbies outside of drawing directly is an important way to recharge my creative battery. It helps me get inspired and consider new ideas when I’m in a creative slump as well. Especially with games, I get to see how other storytellers do their work and how they create. Looking at how a game is made and what I enjoy about it helps me reflect on my own techniques and style. In a way I get to learn from their success!”
A: “I had more time for is figure skating! It’s been a really great way to get active and feel good in my body in a way that I find very fulfilling. I’ve usually gone with my friends, so we get to hang out together too! (Shoutout to the Sheridan Figure Skating Club!!). I’ve always been a huge gamer. Recently, it’s been fun because of the community I’ve found. It’s been a surprisingly great way for me to meet other artists and creatives, and I love collaborating on ideas and inspiring each other through our love of a specific game.
Q: Who at Sheridan has had a lasting positive impact on you?
A: “ I have to give a shout out to all of my Illustration professors, who frequently felt like they believed in me and my success more than I did, and helped me keep my head up when things were stressful. A huge thank you to Marco Cibola, I didn’t think I’d ever have an interest in graphic design, but in his Design Studio course, I realized how much I could enjoy and be passionate about it! His encouragement and feedback helped me develop the skills, experience, and confidence to pursue my co-op and my current position!”
Q: When things get overwhelming, what helps you stay grounded or motivated?
A: “I pull out my planner and make a giant to-do list! I go class by class and break down my assignments I have to do, then I go through all of my personal commitments. I keep it colour coded by class to give myself that little bit of joy at colouring in my to-do squares once I check something off! This helps get all my thoughts onto paper and figure out what I need to do first once I can see all my due dates in front of me.”
Q: What’s something that has inspired you lately?
A: “Lately, I’ve been really inspired by Rebecca Sugars’ album Lonely Magic. Several songs on it focus on the creative process and how it interlinks with our lives in a way that really moved me. The opening song Ice Water has been a staple of my walks to school and makes me feels so refreshed and excited about learning new things in my program. Listening to the album feels like a reminder of why I’m so passionate about what I’m studying and why its so important to me.”
Q: What habit or daily ritual can you not live without?
A: A daily cup of tea, when I have the time, is something I can’t go without. Growing up, tea followed almost every meal I had with my family, so it just feels wrong to not have one now! It’s become a way to decompress and ground myself. When I’m stressed, measuring tea, steeping it at the right temperatures & times, and getting to enjoy the first hot sip, settles me down.”
Q: What excites you about what’s next in your life?
A: “I’d definitely get involved in clubs! Just by running Zine Club, I’ve met so many wonderful people I’d never have talked to otherwise because we’re in different years or programs. There’s a club for so many different interests at Sheridan that you can definitely find something to get excited about. My principle has always been that clubs are here to help make your college experience fun and make opportunities for you to connect with people, so don’t be afraid to join!”
Q: Any advice for people choosing a program or starting college?
A: “Remember everyone is as nervous and excited as you are! It can be really intimidating walking into your first day and not knowing if you’ll be able to handle the pressure or if this is the right choice for you. Friends are an important support for getting through that. It’s changed my perspective to get to know someone I was looking up to or intimidated and hear they were just as nervous and stressed out as me the whole time.”
Q: What excites you about what’s next in your life?
A: “Being in Animation now, but also having done some more years of college and becoming more confident about my career as an artist, I’m really excited about being able to connect with other artists in the local community. Just this year, I’m excited to attend TCAF and Anime North as my biggest artist alley events yet, and attend TAAFI and meet others in the animation industry! It feels exciting to feel apart of things and it really feels like I’m working on making my dreams a reality.”
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