Driven by his passion for graphic design, Osvaldo Aguilar, Advertising and Digital Design ’22, found his way to FIT through EOP, where he gained the support and discipline to succeed. With continued guidance and dedication, he’s now a practicing graphic designer determined to make an impact in the industry.
FIT Newsroom: Can you tell me about the work you’re doing now as a designer?
Osvaldo Aguilar: I’m a designer at Lippincott, specializing in corporate branding and visual design for clients like Starbucks. I focus on bringing fresh, playful perspectives to corporate design by mastering its rules and finding ways to experiment within them. Outside of that, I create art on the side to stay connected to my creative instincts.
How did you find your way to FIT, and how did EOP come into the picture?
I grew up in Brooklyn and knew I wanted to study design. FIT was the only school I applied to. Since my grades weren’t strong, I was drawn to FIT’s emphasis on portfolios. When my friends told me about EOP, which supports low-income students and those with lower grades but strong potential, it felt like the right path.
What was it like entering the EOP program?
Honestly, it was a rough start. When I first joined EOP, they had us take portfolio courses before the semester began. I missed a few and didn’t pass. If the EOP doesn’t think you’re ready, they won’t let you start.
I had to defer my admission because the design program runs in sequence—Art Semester One followed by Art Semester Two—so missing One meant waiting a full year. It was a major wake-up call. Up until then, I was used to getting by in school despite bad grades, without facing real consequences.
I remember crying, worried my mom would be disappointed. Ms. Orange looked at me and said, “The reason you do things should never be for other people. You have to do it for yourself.” She was right. There’s always pressure to succeed for others, but in the end, it’s about finding purpose for yourself, doing the work because it matters to you, not just to meet someone else’s expectations. That conversation stuck with me. Design was something I truly cared about, and I kept going because I was determined to study it.
When I came back, I knew no one was handing me this opportunity just for me to waste it. If you get a chance like that, you finish it. You start strong, and you finish strong. No excuses. That mindset kept me focused.
Once you officially started at FIT, what was that transition like for you?
In 2018, a year after deferring, I finally started at FIT and immediately felt the weight of imposter syndrome. Most of the people around me had attended art schools, owned their own computers, and already knew the design software, things I didn’t have.
I had to accept that I was behind. But I turned that into motivation and used my imposter syndrome as fuel, and I committed to catching up and exceeding expectations. I knew I had to work harder than others to get the same results, and accepting that became my strength. I wasn’t satisfied unless my effort showed in the work.
I had a real sense of purpose. I told myself, I’m going to give this everything I’ve got. I made myself believe I could take it as far as I wanted.
—Dana Flores, Advertising and Marketing Communications ’22