Managing Two Worlds: How an iACADEMY Student Balances Academics and Entrepreneurship

Turning passion into profit is possible with creativity, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit. Hereiña Natalia Villaroman is a 4th-year AB Multimedia Arts and Design student of iACADEMY. Going by the artist name, Abri Pikuuh Nah, she is currently not only managing her responsibilities as a graduating student but also runs her own online shop and attends events to set up her merchandise booth. In an interview, Natalia gave us a glimpse of her creative and business processes and reflected on how she balances academic requirements with running her own business. 

At conventions and other popular culture events, Artist Alleys serve as dedicated sections where artists can sell their original or fan works to eager attendees. Eventgoers, wallets in hand, navigate rows upon rows of booths displaying various artworks and merchandise, with popular items like stickers, keychains, and more. 

Natalia is one of the artists who set up booths at these events. She has attended major popular culture events like Howlers, and more recently, CosMeet 2026. Her artist name, Abri Pikuuh Nah, also serves as the name of her business. Aside from selling at these events, she also runs an online shop through a platform called Big Cartel, where she reaches both local and international customers. She even shared that most of her clients come from the US, highlighting how hands-on the process can be when handling international orders. She sells stickers, keychains, tarot cards, and other practical merchandise like acrylic clips that feature popular Anime and game IPs. Although she admits to being a novice, she has the help of her friends, who are avid eventgoers, in figuring out product pricing and other aspects of running her shop. 

Balancing her business with her studies does not come easy. She even shared an experience when her midterms coincided with the production of her merchandise. She reflected on what iACADEMY has taught her, sharing that the school has helped her learn to balance coursework and business responsibilities. Beyond time management, the coursework she takes in iACADEMY’s Multimedia Arts and Design program has also shaped her creative practice. As she expressed, “If there’s one thing iACADEMY has made me expand more [..] as a multimedia artist, not only do I draw, I also do film work, we also do music, and those other types of mediums inspire me to draw [...] different type[s] of artistic styles.” 

Beyond coursework, iACADEMY has also provided opportunities for artists to sell their work. During Academics Week 2026, Natalia was able to set up her booth in the school cafeteria. She expresses her gratitude to iACADEMY for providing this opportunity, especially in a larger environment where competition among artists can be fierce. Having a space within their own school to sell their work is already a feat in itself, allowing students to reach people who share appreciation for art without worrying about the costs associated with joining larger events outside the school. 

As a graduating student, Natalia hopes to pursue a career as a Game Creative Director or Concept Artist. Moving forward, she also sees herself continuing to sell her merchandise and set up booths at events part-time. For those who wish to follow a similar path, especially first-timers, she emphasizes the importance of having passion for what they do. 

At iACADEMY, students are given the space to explore their passions and create opportunities for themselves. As Natalia shared, the interdisciplinary nature of the Multimedia Arts and Design program exposes her to various art forms and mediums, inspiring her work and allowing her to turn her creativity into merchandise she can sell.