Designing Paths: Arezu Ahmadi shares her story as an immigrant designer

Compelling narrative of immigration and design by Arezu Ahmadi

Arezu Ahmadi, a freelance brand and web designer, moved from Iran to Canada in 2017. With a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design in 2009, she's worked for ASUS in Iran and now freelancer. In 2022, Arezu moved to Ontario after initially living in Alberta, where she has been living since. She's passionate about lifelong learning, actively participating in the RGD Education Committee and contributing to the RGD word since joining a year ago.

What drove you to leave Iran, and then end up working in Canada as a designer?

I came here for the country’s commitment to diversity and value my freedom to live here, especially as a woman. I want my child to grow up in such a society that aligns with my belief in diverse perspectives and freedom of expression of ideas, which will enrich the creative process. It was a choice of country to live and work in.

What observations have you drawn about Canadian versus Iranian styles of design?

I believe the basic principles of graphic design between Iran and Canada remain the same. However, I have noticed significant differences in typography. Learning about fonts and types in English was a great shift for me, especially coming from a background where I used to write right to left. While I love Persian calligraphy, I have come to appreciate English type for its geometrically shaped letters and find it more convenient for its shapes and letters than Persian type. 

If I wanted to look at the benefit of being a Persian designer, I found in my Persian heritage a connection to one of the richest and oldest cultures globally. This allows me to draw on connections from the past and immerse myself in a historical, artistic flow from an early age, resulting in a visual memory filled with incredible images. The unfortunate part is I used to live in a society where censorship was dominant and the Islamic government didn't allow artists, designers, writers to express their ideas as they wanted.

What would be something most Canadians or immigrants to Canada wouldn't necessarily know about your unique experience?

Coming from a rich Persian cultural background, I bring a unique advantage to my design work. I'm experienced in meeting the needs of bilingual clients and understanding Arabic design due to my familiarity with Persian typography. Living in Canada further enhances this advantage. However, I've faced challenges in convincing employers of the value of my international experience. This led me to start my own business, rebuilding my career from scratch.

Despite my qualifications, some employers prefer Canadian experienced designers. The hurdle lies partly in how HR evaluates portfolios. While I showcase my membership with RGD on my website, I lack in-house Canadian experience, which can be a barrier in certain job applications.

What were some unexpected obstacles coming to Canada as an already experienced designer?

I was confident that in Canada, my previous experiences would ease landing my first job. Reality proved otherwise. As a newcomer, I found that immigration centers primarily focused on individuals without professional or educational backgrounds, which left me feeling isolated in the first year after immigrating. Luckily, after one year, I found the Edmonton graphic design community, and my design journey in Canada started from there. Being encouraged by people in the field is really important, when everything is very challenging, language barriers on top of other living challenges make things more difficult. 

Joining RGD has provided me with a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow designers and gain invaluable insights from their expertise. The RGD mentorship program, in particular, has been instrumental in enhancing my skills and boosting my confidence as a designer.

Check out more of Arezu's work here.