Minami — Web Designer at a Vancouver marketing company
Experienced Japan designer (multi-year graphic→web path; exact total years not stated as one number) who studied in Vancouver and hired into a marketing-company design role from Co-op.
Webデザイナー · Vancouver
Profile
Minami is a web designer in Vancouver (attributes). Age band: 20s. Employer named only as a marketing company.
Current role
Designer at a marketing company since Co-op start (January 2017 at interview timing ~1 year in role). Broad work: web/UI, logos/packaging, occasional video and Japanese localization. Team of about five designers. Switched to working-holiday visa; preparing CELPIP and seeking a raise toward PR via the current employer.
Japan experience
Prior experience (経験者) as a designer for several years (exact total years not stated as a single figure). High-school design track → graphic designer right after graduation. Left first company after ~1 year (harsh environment; adaptive disorder). Traveled roughly around the world for ~half a year, then returned to design studios and moved from graphic to web (branding, site design, coding, SEO). Declined an easy local top-agency offer as too predictable; worked at a flexible startup to save for study abroad.
Path to Canada / North America
College route. Arrived Vancouver July 2015; ~6 months ESL (started at elementary level), then January 2016 Graphic & Development / Graphic & Web Development vocational course. Took Japan and US project work (often via Dribbble) while studying. Chose Vancouver to learn North American work styles with Frog community precedent. Attributes: ~18 months to offer.
Outcome
Hired as designer at the marketing company from Co-op (January 2017). Shortly after accepting, declined another full-time offer (design + frontend) that arrived via Dribbble. Building toward PR with English testing.
Based on Frog’s Japanese-language interview. English summary for scanning (partners / employers). Original interview (Japanese)
Marketing-company employer brand name not stated.