Hi! I’m Valentin Nguyen.
I’m a graphic designer specializing in illustration. By day, I’m designing at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and leading the brand at Pages for Pediatrics, where I work with students across the U.S. to make children’s books for pediatric patients. I’m also currently pursuing a Master’s in Brand Design & Strategy at ArtCenter.
At heart, I’m a storyteller. My work is driven by curiosity, grounded in strategy, and always centered around people. I’m passionate about crafting stories that empower others, spark joy, and create memorable experiences!
Email: va.nguyen06@gmail.com
LinkedIn: /in/valentin-nguyen/
valentin: hi! 👋 i’m valentin nguyen. my name is pronounced val-en-teen noo-win. thanks for asking!
You: What’s your story?
valentin: a few key moments have changed my life:
1) i grew up a quiet and observant kid. inspired by san francisco’s vibrant city and culture, art became my way of expressing emotions i couldn’t quite put into words. i kept creating, sketching, and eventually realized my dream is to tell stories that empower others through creativity!
2) in 2020, i got the opportunity to collaborate with a UCLA medical student to illustrate a children’s book about COVID—right when the pandemic was at its peak.
after four months of late nights, email threads, and thousands of sketches, A Voyage to Virus Land was published! the most rewarding part was hearing from friends and family that the book brought them hope during a time when the world felt scary and uncertain.
3) in 2021, a mutual friend asked if i could help her start a school club that makes children’s books for pediatric patients! of course, i said yes, and immediately brought in my passion for illustration and storytelling to help produce books that empower young readers and raise awareness about pediatric health conditions.
today, i serve as a board director and the creative director of Pages for Pediatrics, which has since grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with affiliates at universities across the country!
i’m now a graphic designer specializing in illustration, helping organizations craft visual stories.
i believe the greatest impact happens when we come together as a community! i’m most inspired when working alongside people who share the same goal: to create meaningful and memorable experiences through the power of storytelling.
You: Wow! What is your life goal?
valentin: i hope to become a mentor and advocate for young and emerging designers! they have so much potential to rebuild our world into a better, healthier place 🌎
You: Incredible! Who inspires you?
valentin: in no particular order:
1) jennet liaw is a designer & illustrator that i’ve been following since i was 11 years old. her work is illustrative, elegant, and super thoughtful
2) elizabeth goodspeed is a master of words and editorial design. her work is honest, witty, playful, and rooted in design history and culture
3) talia cotton inspires me to try creative coding even when the coding world seems so daunting to me
4) oliver jeffers is my all-time favorite illustrator. he has a way of illustrating weird, complicated things into simple works of art!
You: What’s your advice for people wanting to break into the creative space?
valentin: don’t take things too seriously, and have fun! perfectionism can only limit your imagination
You: Why do you type in all lowercase?
valentin: lowercase feels more casual, the stakes are lower, the vibes are calm, and it lets me feel more comfortable communicating with others!
you: i’m trying it out right now and the vibes do feel calmer. so, what do you do in your free time?
valentin: in my free time, i solve New York Times puzzles, collect Rubik’s cubes, do yoga, make matcha, redecorate my home in Animal Crossing, redecorate my home in real life, solve math equations to calm myself, tend my crops in Stardew Valley, daydream about traveling the world, and floss after every meal you: haha. what’s your favorite animal?
valentin: the mudskipper—they look so curious!
you: nice! well, i have to go now. thanks for the chat. bye!
valentin: my pleasure. have a nice day!