A New York
Dream Come True

Bea Sambalido kickstarted her design career by moving from the Philippines to study at #shillony. She took advantage of our student visa opportunity to make her New York dreams come true. Today, Bea fills us in on her journey!

What was your motivation behind coming to New York to study?

I was enticed by the whole idea of studying in the city I’ve always wanted to live in. I feel that New York is a huge source of inspiration. You see it all around you. This city is very competitive and I wanted to be in a place that will push you to grow even more.

You entered the U.S. on an M-1 Visa to study with Shillington. How was your experience obtaining the visa?

It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. It was very quick and Shillington was very helpful in giving us a list of requirements and expectations. The key is to start early though, just in case you may have any last minute fixes in your requirements.

Do you feel your New York experience influenced your design style and/or approach?

Definitely. You’re constantly exposed to a lot of things and it changes your perception which in turn, affects your style. With all the clutter around, I feel that my design has become more streamlined and focused.

What were some of the best examples of design you encountered while in New York?

Personally I’d say the best examples of design can be seen in a lot of buildings and the establishments in West Village, Soho and Williamsburg. You see it in the materials they use, the lights, the walls and the furniture.  What’s great about this city is that you see all types of authentic and grounded design. You see it everywhere.

What advice would you give to someone considering New York as an option for study in the creative field?

Do it! If you want to be pushed and be constantly inspired, NYC is the place for you.

Check out more of Bea’s design work and get a peek into her NYC lifestyle on Instagram. 

Want to study in one of the most inspiring cities in the world like Bea? Studying as an international student at our #shillony campus is super easy with a student visa. Find out more here.