Joe: Q&A with #TeamAquí
At Aquí, we take our cuppa Joe very seriously. Rest assured, because the same applies when it comes to design. As avid coffee drinkers, we often ask, “How do you like your coffee?” And as a creative boutique, we like to ask, “How do you like your design?” Joe is a blog segment where we - #TeamAquí - share our design inspirations.
Aquí turns Four this month! With birthdays, there is always a big question looming over our heads, “What are we celebrating for?” We feel that sometimes it is easy to forget who we are and what we have achieved. Every win, big or small, is worth celebrating and it also boosts innovative work and productivity. Which is why at Aquí, we believe in practising gratitude. Aside from our weekly appreciation sessions, we each took some time this month to reflect on our #LifeAtAquí.
Q&A with our Founder: María’s Journey
Q: What are three big things about Aquí that you would like to celebrate today?
- Having an incredible, tight-knit and badass all-woman team
- Having worked with people from all walks of life and being exposed to a wide array of brands from vastly different sectors - from Technology to F&B
- Four years of crazy challenges and constant growth
Q: Having set up Aquí, what is one of the biggest lessons that you have learnt?
In the early days, I was constantly hustling and grinding; trying to get Aquí off the ground. Putting myself out there and meeting people was crucial in getting things rolling. Through that process, I've learnt that treating people with kindness and authenticity goes a long way - it’s like a domino effect. Making every interaction as personal and genuine as possible creates a positive experience that no formulaic sales tactic can achieve. This practice has led to countless referrals from people who have worked with Aquí and it has not only contributed to our success but made us feel really special at the same time.
Q: How do you feel about Aquí being part of the 0.1% of creative agencies founded by women?
Hearing that number never fails to amaze me. I feel incredibly proud and grateful for the position that I'm in and I really do hope the numbers will continue to grow in this modern era where women are constantly empowering one another to take big leaps of faith and take the lead.
Q&A: #LifeAtAquí
Q: Who are you and how long have you been at Aquí?
N: I’m Nella, an Intern Designer, and I have been in Aquí for 6 months.
E: I’m Evelyn, a Junior Designer, and I’ve been in Aquí for a year.
YT: I’m Yu Ting, a Project Manager, and I’ve been in Aquí for 10 months.
Q: If you could describe working at Aquí in three words, what would they be?
N: Empowering - there’s just something about being in an all-women team that makes me feel empowered. Everyone is really supportive of each other and constantly lifting each other up. Inspiring - I’m always learning something new from my peers, whether it’s through sharing podcasts or recipes, or during ‘Inspo sessions’ where we discuss different topics. Composed - we rarely get into disagreements, but if there is one, we can always count on each other to resolve it in an amicable manner.
E: Open - we like to talk about random topics and share our views openly. The conversations are always fun and wholesome even if our views differ greatly. Supportive - I can always count on the team whenever I need help, knowing that we all have each other’s backs. Flexible - we are always given the freedom to explore ideas on our own without being restricted to a fixed way of working.
YT: Encouraging - we are always given room to test our ideas out before concluding if it works or not. Constructive - every opinion that we give comes from a place of wanting to improve. Right or wrong is relative, which is why we often decide as a team on what is the most suitable or effective solution by discussing our thought processes. Fun - we don’t forget how to have fun when we’re at work. Our sporadic conversations, habit of digressing and celebratory says it all.
Q: What is one of the most special memories you’ve had till date working in Aquí?
N: Yoga during our IWD celebration! I cherish that memory even more now as that all happened before the lockdown. It was my first time trying yoga and it's a lot tougher than I imagined.
E: Going for yoga together. It was like a peek into María's life outside of the office as we joined her for yoga at the studio she frequents. The experience was really refreshing and it brought the team closer.
YT: Doing yoga with the team during International Women’s Day! Before the session, we spoke about our female heroes and why we were proud to be a woman. It was a day that felt super positive and empowering, and plus I got to see a different side of my peers.
Q: What’s most purposeful about working in an all-women team?
N: That we are open with each other and always supporting each other's growth.
E: Meeting other women and having meaningful conversations has allowed me to learn and gain awareness of many things that I did not know before.
YT: Being able to show our vulnerability to one another and having a safe space for important conversations.
#TeamAquí wishes Aquí…
M: To keep growing and creating a positive lifelong effect on what we design.
N: To continue to inspire and grow!
E: To continue to grow and create a positive impact on the people around us and on the world.
YT: To keep using design to create positive experiences that enable and empower people.
At Aquí, it is the people that we believe are the key to what we have built over the past years. Beyond ourselves, we would like to extend this celebration to everyone who has been part of Aquí’s journey, one way or another. To our clients and friends - thank you for all your amazing support and we hope to continue to do great work and have fun while we’re at it. We can’t wait to continue shaping what’s next!
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