Designing a New Direction
After leaving the military in 2010, Antonio Renoj worked hard but felt adrift — cycling through jobs from delivery driver to restaurant manager without a clear path forward. That changed when his wife, Brittanie — a photographer — introduced him to filmmaking. “She taught me how to use a camera and how to put together a vision,” he says.
Inspired but without a degree, Antonio struggled to break into creative roles — until he discovered Santa Monica College’s groundbreaking Interaction Design (IxD) program. “Design had always been in the back of my mind — I just didn’t know what to call it,” he says. The program showed him how to combine design, technology, and user experience to solve real-world problems.
Through SMC, Antonio joined Snapchat’s Snap Design Academy, became a Stanford University Innovation Fellow, and worked for several years in a full-time marketing role at the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce — all while finishing two degrees. Collaborative projects, including one with BMW DesignWorks, helped sharpen his skills in leadership, teamwork, and innovation.
Now graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Interaction Design and an Associate degree in Graphic Design, Antonio wants to open a design firm that empowers small businesses. “It’s about helping people communicate, solve problems, and thrive.”
He credits his family, SMC counselors, and faculty for helping him believe in himself. “That one choice — to go back to school — led to all of this,” Antonio says. “I’ll always be grateful to SMC for giving me the chance to become who I am now.”