By Marissa V. Foster

Amar Latif is a very ambitious Guyanese graphic designer. Latif went to Barbados in 2016 and applied to the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology. There, he studied graphic design and printing technology. He was ahead of the class and was later placed on job attachment. He worked and studied simultaneously. While working, he was asked to stay in Barbados a while longer to work as a graphic designer, printing press operator and bookbinder because his employers noted his efficient work ethic. Latif was very proud of himself because as he was working, he was also able to teach his classmates. Normally, it takes five years for someone to become a printing press operator but it took him only six months to learn the printing press.

Subsequently, after earning his diploma, he was met with various company offers to work due to his newfound skills and knowledge. Amar also had intentions to open his own business. After he returned to Barbados from a trip to Guyana in January, he realised that a lot of companies appreciate his skills and how he multitasks but none of them were willing to pay him according to his level of qualifications. Hence, he reflected and said to himself: “I am too educated to be working for someone that doesn’t know my worth eventually. So six months later, I was working on getting my very own printing press to set up my business,” he said. “I eventually opened my business and I’m doing everything by myself now. From graphic designs and printing. The presses I work with are Heidelberg KORD, GTO, Speedmaster, Printmaster, HP indigo 3050, Xerox, Toshiba, Hamada press, and Heidelberg 10 color printing press.” Latif is the proud owner of “Graphic Mood” and is also currently trying to expand his business to Guyana.

“I am a Guyanese that came to Barbados to study and achieve my goals with hopes of opening my own business. No matter how hard you think something is, you always have to fail first in order to gain success,” said Latif. His business is booming as he now offers free shipping to any Guyanese who may be interested in printing business cards, flyers, brochures, stickers, labels, cake boxes, soap boxes, posters, tickets and much more. His business is always to give discounts and he has an open mind to listen to everyone’s story, in order to communicate and gain more customers. He stressed that he does all the designing and printing by himself. He is still in disbelief that he now has his very own business. This driven graphic designer expressed that, “My business stands out from others because that I am my own boss. I do everything by myself and as such, I can maintain the quality of my work, the way I see fit.” His mother always told him to have faith and one day things will get better. Today, she can now look at her son and see her hard work in raising him is paying off, he said.