We were lucky to catch up with Stella Musi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Stella, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)?

Early in my graphic design career, I was working on some invitations and menus for a fancy dinner. I got the text in a Word document and pasted it into InDesign, thinking it was an easy job.

But when I handed it to my project manager, she found tons of typos and mistakes. She called me into her office, and man, she scared me. But she dropped some wisdom on me that stuck forever.

She said, “If you focus and do it right the first time, you won’t need to keep fixing it. Finish early and go home early.”

It hit me hard – time and precision matter. After that day, I always stayed sharp and gave my best on the first go. It’s a crucial skill in any job – stay focused, be precise. That’s the secret to success!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a Graphic Designer / Art Director. I worked in a variety of industries from Entertainment to Advertising to Beauty, but lately I have been specializing in Art Direction for Social Media uniting classic Graphic Design to Motion Graphic Design and strategic thinking.

I worked in several agencies in Milan and Los Angeles that exposed me to notable clients and taught me how to handle projects with determination and professionalism. I was lucky to be trained and to collaborate with some of the brightest professionals in the world of visual communication and creativity and I learned how to be a good worker, before being a good designer.

What most differentiates me from other designers is the ability to collaborate with my clients and listen to their needs, try to absorb their essence instead of imposing my visual identity on them. I want to help my clients to find their own voice.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I’m still a ways off from achieving this dream, but what really fires me up is making the world a better place through my work.

Marketing and design have some serious power to influence people and the planet, and my ultimate goal is to team up with clients who share my vision and values.

I’ve got this burning desire to raise awareness about the environmental crisis. I want to work with sustainable brands that genuinely care about these issues and get their message into as many homes as possible. Making a difference, one design at a time – that’s what I’m all about!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

You know, growing up in Italy, things seemed a bit complicated for me when it came to choosing my path. In high school, I went the “scientific studies” route because that’s how it’s done there. But deep down, I always had this creative fire burning inside me.

When the time came to pick a course of study for university, people were all like, “Hey, you’ve got a scientific background, go for something more technical!” So, instead of going all-in on Graphic Design, I chose Product Design.

Even during my time at university, my buddies kept urging me to focus on scientific and managerial stuff. I let their opinions get to me, and I started doubting my artistic abilities. Can you believe that? I didn’t think I was “artistic” enough to be a graphic designer!

So, I ended up going for a safe bet and taking a Masters Degree in Event Management. But guess what? Fate had other plans!

It was only when I found myself surrounded by fellow left-brained colleagues in event management that something magical happened. They were amazed by my design skills and creativity! It was like a lightbulb moment, and I finally started believing in myself and my dreams of becoming a designer. I bloomed, my friend!

Here’s the thing I had to unlearn: It doesn’t matter where you come from or what your background is – you can chase any dream you want! There are no rules! Don’t let anyone else influence your path. You do you, and you’ll rock it!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.stellamusi.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrographo/