Artree Panichakoon (Audrey)

Audrey was born in Udon Thani, Thailand. Her family was in the photography business. Audrey came to Maryland in 1978 with her parents when she was eight years old. She went to Frostburg State University where she received BFA in graphic design. At first, she was discouraged by a teacher who did not appreciate her work. But Audrey did not give up. She won several awards in design while in college.  Determined to pursue her career in graphic design, she went to Pratt Institute of Design in New York where she earned a Master’s degree in communications design. Audrey is currently co-publisher of JADE Magazine, a magazine for professional Asian and Asian American women that functions as a forum to shatter myths about Asian women and for discussion of views, ideas and concerns to the community. It's mission is to empower Asian women’s identity and style.

You’ve got to know what you want, and then you have to just go out and get it. Education helps a lot. My parents did make me go to college. I didn't want to go to college. But they made me, which I did and I enjoyed it.

All my life I've always had people tell me I can't do anything, so I always proved to them [that I can.] But that’s just how my personality is. . . . High school was really a bad time, and a lot of people didn't think I would get anywhere. But I knew that I had to, and I kind of did it. You have to know your goals and stick with them. . . . You just have to be strong.

There's a lot of women in the field. But I want to be the first. I’d like to be a very successful Asian woman in graphic design. One of my relatives told me to pick something and just try to be the best in that, and so that's what I decided to do: graphic design. I'm stuck with it now. I mean, why not go all the way. So that's what I want.

Artree Panichakoon (Audrey)

Audrey		Audrey sharing her portfolio of design work