Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jeffrey Bonsato. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jeffrey, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My mission of design first began in high school. I had a teacher who shared his passion of graphic design to our class. I could feel his excitement and this opened a field of curiosity to learn more. He would teach us different skills and talked about how people could do this as a career. I started to design products and shared it with my friends and family. I saw how sharing things I created made their eyes light up and I said to myself, “I want to make people feel like this every single time.” Everyone saw the potential and talent in me. Since my start of my journey, I have designed many things for clients over the years but my mission has changed into sharing the goodness and love of Christ. Recently, I’ve incorporated my creative skills with my Faith in God into the inspiration of my work. Design is an opportunity for me to serve and breathe new life into people. My Faith is my guiding principle to bring positive change in the communities we call home.

Jeffrey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

What sets me apart from others is what influences my work and having the utmost care for each client. I put God first, which inspires my work, and I also pray for my clients. I pray over each client and assignment so I can see a vision that God sends for me to complete. I also try to guide them into a different way of thinking. It’s not always about making money, but a way to impact their lives in a positive way. On the practical side of design, I really want to their ideas come to life so I craft the right amount of time to design their personal story to the world. So, if the clients ask for a few items, then I give them a few more options. I like to surprise the client by over delivering and show them that I am here to help!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Certainly, like most people, my childhood was not without its struggles. I wasn’t a very confident person, and what people said to me or about me held a lot of ground in my life. I grew up in an immigrant family and saw how hard it was for them to work and make ends meet. I saw firsthand how the pressures of everyday life really impacted immigrant families and even the mistreatment that took place. Those close to me never really had faith in my creative skills, much less that it would take me far. It really was a challenge, more mentally than physically.

I enlisted into the Army, which helped me be more disciplined, organized, and bring a sense of confidence back into my life. Joining the military and working for successful organizations has challenged me to strive for improvement. Verbal communication has never been my strong suit, which is why I don’t boast about my work, but instead, let my work do the talking. Recently, God has brought meaningful relationships into my life to help me grow and address the obstacles that keep me from reaching my full potential. I am truly blessed.

That battle inside to ignore the doubters and naysayers and prove that my passion and dreams of being an Art Director can be a reality with perseverance and focus. In this industry being a Filipino American, the odds are already stacked against you. It isn’t a common ethnicity in the Creative Industry. Some didn’t give me the benefit of the doubt to at least see my work. I needed to overcome adversity. I wanted to change the stigma from the lens of ethnicity to capability. Positive influence in the creative industry comes with diversified mediums used within their respected final products. I want to show that even the artists themselves can be diverse and respected.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspecting of being an artist or creative is seeing clients have a unique voice through the process of design. Every solution I design is made from scratch. I want to tell their personal story visually by creating beautiful things. I not only look at myself as an artist but an underdog too. We’re trying to achieve what the client wants in innovative ways. I always want to push the boundary of what is expected and share what can do differently, together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jeffreybonsato.com
• Instagram: @missinglinkdesign
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreybonsato
• Other: https://www.behance.net/JeffreyBonsato https://www.dribbble.com/JeffreyBonsato

Image Credits
• L&L Barbecue image: All artwork was produced for Blackletter Group • Fresh Leadership image: All artwork was produced for Blackletter Group • Special Olympics Hawai‘i image: All artwork was produced for Special Olympics Hawai‘i