Today we’d like to introduce you to Mylene Raspado.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Mylene. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
From a young age, I have always had a passion for the design. I remember watching my mother rearrange our furniture, constantly switching things up, switching out the seasonal decor, etc, I found myself doing the same within my own bedroom. My wishlists for birthdays and Christmas always had some kind of decor related items on it, still does! LOL, I remember my purple stage, Nickelodeon theme, Winnie The Pooh, and then, it grew to my Asian/Bohemian stage! Alongside that, I also I had a love for teaching. I remember setting up pretend classrooms with my stuff animals and dolls and teaching lessons.
Once I graduated from high school (Lane Tech), I decided to pursue design. I enrolled at Harrington College of Design, but after going on the school tour, something leads me to pursue teaching, because to me(and my parents) it was “more stable” of a career to pursue. I then was accepted to North Park University and received my undergrad in Elementary Education. Halfway through the program, about to begin the student teaching portion, I began to feel as though I’d made the wrong decision and began saying that I “felt God was going to throw me a curve ball”. I decided to complete my degree and allow myself to dive into teaching to really be sure if it was for me. My parents had referred to me as their teacher and seeing them talk to their friends about how proud of me they were becoming one, in hindsight now, I realized I was continuing to pursue it more for them. I graduated from Northpark in 2009 and spent the next three years as a substitute teacher. After having gained experience with every grade level and different subjects, I was able to confirm that teaching was not my ultimate passion.
I remember constantly being in the classrooms and school offices dreaming up ways Id redesign the spaces if I could. In 2012, I then re-looked into Harrington College of Design and to my surprise, I discovered they had a career changes program! I would be able to receive my masters in a different field than my undergrad! I felt a push from God to fill out the application and follow the open doors that He was providing me. I remember being so nervous, going for my masters was never something I dreamed up nor thought about, and academics never came easy to me, but pursuing this just felt right.
I must add that throughout the years of subbing, I was a very active within my church as a youth leader. I was constantly using my passion for design/decor to help young girls with their rooms. If they were experiencing a hardship, I’d go and redo their room, because I knew how much a physical space that you spent a lot of time in really did have an impact on your mood.
I was accepted into the masters program at Harrington and began to pursue my dream career in the Fall of 2012. It was meant to be a three-year program. In 2014, I got married and 6 months into marriage we discovered we were pregnant, right as I was beginning my Thesis process! I was a hot mess, feeling not ready for such a blessing and overwhelmed by the timing but blessed beyond measure to have the ability to carry a child of our own. I continued on and with one semester left(September 2015), I had my first baby boy, Ian. I decided I could not give him and my Thesis both 100% so I took the semester off before completing the program. I finally graduated in 2016 with my Master in the arts of Interior Design. My Thesis was centered on creating a center called, “Nesting Grounds” which served the inner city for mothers before, during, and after their pregnancies. ( I can expand more on that if you’d like)
After graduating, I knew I wanted to give my baby boy at least a full year of being at home with him, well, that year went to two years, and by his second birthday, we were expecting our second boy. Adaiah was born January of this year. He is now almost 6 months and I plan on completing his first year before really diving into my career.
During this time of focusing on being a mama to my boys, I began to build my brand. I created an Instagram account Mylene_Raspado where my goal was to create a networking base, discover my brand, and have a creative outlet. I also had various clients throughothese past yearsear, along with helping design my church’s new children’s facility. I basically allowed God to open doors as I pursued motherhood and my brand.
I have discovered my personal brand to be summed up in the following, “A beautiful home is a collected home”. I am a thrift and clearance advocate, I do not believe a beautifully design home has to be expensive, and I am a firm believer that the atmosphere we create around us correlates into our overall wellbeing. I am also an advocate in design spaces and homes that truly display those that will dwell and inhabit those spaces, speaking to the culture of those within. I love color, texture, and pattern.
My goal for the year is to get a blog and website together. To possibly pursue Edesign or work part time at a small design firm. I have never seen myself to be one who would work in a big design firm, I am more of the small business type lady, who serves the surrounding communities.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. Graduate school was not easy at ALL. As I stated earlier, academics never came easy to me, I am a slow learner, Ive always had to put in much effort to excel. Though, this time it was truly my passion, it still took work.
I also struggle with my identity in grad school. There were not many minorities in my school or in my field as a whole, at least not represented as they should. So, remember struggling at first with my identity. But when I found my groove and started to celebrate the charisma I carried, I began to truly excel.
Another struggle was balancing motherhood while pursing my thesis. I remembered the first three months of pregnancy were so hard for me, constantly being sick etc, made school even more of a challenge. Then when Ian arrived, the first time mama fears and lack of sleep all made school seeming impossible!…but God and my amazing support system saw me through!
Now, the challenges are with balancing motherhood, two boys one breastfeeding and the other potty training. while trying to get back into personal branding, etc., is draining lol but mama needs her creative outlet!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Mylene Raspado Design – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I specialize in creating beautiful MEANINGFUL spaces on a budget. I believe what sets me apart from others in my heart, I cannot separate my heart from my career. At the end of the day, I want to serve people, I want to create spaces the serve them and their families, or communities. I want them to FEEL comfort and love within spaces.
The proudest moment thus far is Tri fold:
1. Recently being featured on a list of domino magazines 47 inspiring designers of color to follow!
https://domino.com/instagram-diversity-content-creatorshttps://domino.com/instagram-diversity-content-creators
2. Being featured on Design Sponge, a design blog that I have drooled over and gleaned inspiration from for years!
http://www.designsponge.com/2018/02/a-chicago-home-filled-with-reflections-of-family-culture-love.html
3. A recent project where we surprised a mama of three who recently discovered she has a stage for breast cancer, with a master bedroom renovation and a small backyard refresh!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love that you can find every type of culture here and their food!!! You cannot say that for many places. We also have one of the most beautiful skylines and downtowns!
I do not like the violence that has taken over our city, and the nickname that we have gained from it.
Contact Info:
- Email: myleneraspado@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mylene_raspado/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myleneraspadodesign/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/myleneraspado
Image Credit:
Sasha Kisiel
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
