Annie Como '22
Art, Media, and Technology (BFA)
Where are you from, and where did you grow up?
My family is from the United States, and I was born in Texas, so I usually say I’m from there. However, I moved away from the United States when I was six and spent most of my life in Northern Europe. This is where I feel most at home.
Do you feel at home in Paris?
Yes, to an extent. My French is far from perfect, and I think it's hard to feel like you 100 percent belong when you don’t speak the same language as everyone around you. Paris is so diverse, though, so it’s easy to find people you connect with, and I feel more and more at home each year.
How does Paris inspire you in your work?
Paris has wonderful museums, galleries, cultural centers, etc. Having access to all these creative spaces definitely inspires me. Normally, when everything’s open, it feels like there’s always some new exhibition happening that I haven’t seen yet, which is really exciting.
What class are you enjoying?
Right now I’m really enjoying Design of Communication, taught by Monica Fraile, which is a sort of graphic design class. Graphic design is something I’ve always enjoyed, but I felt like I didn’t have all the technical skills there before this class.
Where have you interned over the last two years?
I did illustration and graphic design work for a TEDx event in Paris, before COVID canceled it, and now I’m head of graphic design for a small consulting firm based in London. I’ve also done various Fashion Week internships, which are always fun. And very recently, I was presented with an opportunity from one of my teachers to be a part of a project with a group of Parsons Paris students and a luxury cosmetics company.
What does your typical weekend look like?
I live alone, so usually on weekends I like to be with friends as much as possible. When the weather’s nice, we’ll spend all day at a park or by the Seine or the Canal Saint-Martin picnicking and walking around. In the winter, we’ll do more things inside, like going to museums, seeing a movie, or grabbing lunch somewhere. I really love the east of Paris, living in the 11th arrondissement, so I spend almost every weekend in that area walking around and enjoying the city.
Do you have any hobbies?
It’s not very exciting, but I enjoy knitting!
What advice would you give incoming students?
My advice would be to take some time to get to know Paris. It’s one of my favorite cities, but it can be intimidating at first with how big it is. In my first year, I got caught up in a lot of touristy areas and didn’t really know where to go in my free time. To fully appreciate Paris and all its resources, you need to give yourself time to find your favorite areas and explore from there. It’s a lot cooler of a city than people expect, I think!