When Victor “Vico” Hernandez (‘07, Art) was invited to speak at Cal Poly Humboldt’s regional commencement in Los Angeles last month, it was more than just an honor—it was a full-circle moment. 

Nearly two decades since earning his degree in Art, Hernandez created his own graphic design company, Vico Designs, and reconnected with professors, administrators, and students while showcasing the very creation that defines his current path: the ErgoFlex Desk, a fully ergonomic, transforming desk that doubles as a sit-stand workspace and artist’s easel. It’s a culmination of artistry, design ingenuity, and purpose—a reflection of everything Humboldt helped him become.

“I graduated high school with a C average,” he says. But everything shifted when he enrolled at Orange Coast College and discovered a passion for sculpture. He thrived in the metal fabrication program, prompting a pivotal conversation with his professor about transferring.

“I told him, ‘I need to get out of here.’ Something was missing, and I didn’t know what. He said, ‘Humboldt is in Northern California and has the best undergrad metal sculpture program in the country.” 

One campus visit—towering redwoods, a state-of-the-art foundry, and a warm welcome from professors like Mort Scott and Sondra Schwetman sealed the deal.

At Humboldt, Hernandez immersed himself in every artistic discipline available—sculpture, ceramics, painting, graphic design, and more. “I was in the labs all day. I gave it my all.” 

That dedication earned him the University’s Outstanding Student in Fine Arts award and laid the foundation for a successful post-graduation business in graphic and web design.

He cherished the camaraderie of late nights in the sculpture lab, “It was magical. We would stay until 2 or 3 in the morning, people welding, hammering, carving.” The friendships, sculpture walks, and the interdisciplinary learning—from rangeland management to art history—shaped both his career and his values.

After graduation, Hernandez stayed in Humboldt, founding the Humboldt Arts Project in 2009, a grassroots organization that eventually grew into a two-day arts festival held during commencement weekends. “It brought together 8,000 people and hundreds of organizers,” he said. “It was something I started with two friends, and it was beautiful.”

Later, when his mother’s health declined, Hernandez made the difficult decision to leave behind the thriving business and community he’d built and return to Southern California. “Even my mom asked me why I was coming back. But I knew I had to be there for her.”

While caring for his mom, Hernandez re-enrolled in community college, earning certificates in entrepreneurship, industrial design, and product design. That’s where the idea for his ergonomic desk was born. “I needed a desk. Sit-stand desks were expensive rectangles. I thought, ‘What if it could also be an easel?’”

The desk he built may have started as a personal need, but like his journey, it has expanded in purpose and impact.

“It’s about improving health, creativity, and how we interact with our workspace. But really, it’s about helping people live better lives.”

That seed idea evolved into a transformative, mobile, height-adjustable, tilting desk that is now catching the attention of educators and ergonomics researchers alike. 

For Hernandez, returning as the alumni speaker wasn’t just about recognition. “I know I have a story that today’s students can relate to. I came from average grades, but I found my purpose.” 

His message to students? “Reach for the stars. Challenges will come—some will feel like mountains—but lean into your community, your resources, your creativity.”

He’s a firm believer in lifelong learning. “Your diploma is not the end. Learning doesn’t stop. It’s what you do with your knowledge that matters.”

Though now living in Southern California, Hernandez still maintains strong ties to Humboldt—through old clients like Humbrews, through sculptures he’s installed in Arcata, and through the memories of disc golf games in the redwoods and nights filled with art and laughter. 

“Humboldt shaped my worldview. It gave me technical skills, exposed me to social and environmental justice, and gave me the courage to create a life on my terms.”

Photo: Vico Hernandez with his innovative ErgoFlex Desk at regional commencement.