How/where do you find your inspiration?  

I’ve had a curious and accelerated mind since I was a little child. Everything for me needs to make sense and have meaning. I don’t believe in magic, so my inspiration comes from immersing myself in the client’s world as deeply as possible to understand the game they play. I usually watch videos/movies and read articles/magazines about their market. I also believe in the 1/99 rule: 1% inspiration, 99% transpiration. Having that insight is just the beginning of the creative process. After that, you have a long way to go. And that’s the fun of it! 

What are things you do when you face a creative block?  

This is a tricky one. I took a long road to understand it. I reached a point in my 18-year-long career that allow me to take a step back and let it go for a while. I’ve learned the hard way we’re all humans and don’t work in a linear kind of business. I’ve made things worse every time I tried to push harder while in a creative block. If my deadlines are short, I humbly speak to my clients about it. So, if you are dried out of ideas, get out and do something else. Clear your mind, and take your time. Worse than wasting time is wasting time and energy. 

What are mistakes/lessons you’ve encountered as a beginner and have learned from?  

I started my creative career by opening a design studio with a friend when we were under 19 in my parent’s garage. Without a mentor or design education at the time, we had to learn it from the very absolutely zero. I made so many mistakes that it is hard to point out one or two. I think I learned that making mistakes it’s part of our creative ride, and that’s ok if you look into them and learn from what happened. There are no superheroes among us; we’re all just people. Trust the ones around you and be honest about everything – good and bad – that happens in the process. And the most importantly: never give up. You’ll get there! 

What are your best tips/tricks when working with CorelDRAW?  

Play! Play! Play! Explore your alternatives, use and abuse CorelDRAW’s simplicity and tools to express yourself and/or your client’s creative objectives. Have fun during the process and let the inner kid who lives inside each of us go out and play. We’re blessed to have such a joyful job. The world is our office and we are free to bloom in every new project we’re in. Realize that you are not just using a great graphic software but also putting a piece of your soul into every artwork you do through CorelDRAW. Be proud and happy about it every moment because it is worth it!