We recently connected with Genesis Flores and have shared our conversation below.
Genesis, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Although I majored in Graphic Design in college, I learned majority of what I know through YouTube, experimenting, watching others work, and asking questions. I think these are the things that sped up my learning process. By the end of my first year as a design student I realized I knew my way around Illustrator significantly more than my classmates. I had an internship with Commonrags my junior year that challenged me as a designer. Every time I went in to work, I was being asked to try something I did not know how to do, something experimental. Every time I left, I walked out with a new skill under my belt. A year later I had an internship with Temi Coker. Just being in his office, watching him work, seeing his interactions with others was inspiring and motivating. One of my favorite professors, Jeremy Honea, would always show us how our projects could be improved and I would always stop him to ask what shortcut he was using or how he did something. His tips and tricks helped shape me into a much more efficient designer. I think the most essential skills I learned during this time were patience and commitment to the process. I learned that the more patience I am with a concept or design, the better it comes out—always. Only good things can ever come from patience. Commitment to the process goes hand in hand with patience, your work will almost always turn out better when you don’t cut corners. When I first became a designer I was committed to being like a sponge, absorbing knowledge from everyone and everything. I still try to be this way of course. The only things that stood in the way of this were lack of motivation and time constraints.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Genesis, I am a recent graduate of Dallas Baptist University. I inherited natural artistic talent from my father, who’d I always watch sketch or letter growing up. However, when I went to college, I was strongly advised to pick a lucrative career track. Because of this I had decided to major in Criminal Justice to follow in my mother’s footsteps. A year later, I had met students from the Graphic Design program and decided to switch. Aside from giving my life to Jesus, that was the best decision I had ever made in all my 22 years of living. Becoming a designer made me realize I was made to create. Since then, I’ve learned so much and had the opportunity to design for a wide range of clients and audiences that ranges from DBU to Commonrags (streetwear brand). I’m proud of my versatility and flexibility in this way. My father always tells me I’m a relentless kind of stubborn—“you will stop at nothing to get what you want”. Although he may have been a little dramatic, I do always try to find a way to get to my goal. I joke that my motto is “I’ll figure it out” usually in response to someone asking me if I’m able to do a certain skill.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
The Steal like an Artist Trilogy really opened up a whole new world for me as a creative. Even before I became a designer I was always deeply troubled by the feeling of unoriginality. I had artistic ability but what did it matter if I couldn’t come up with anything original? In the year of our Lord 2023, there really truly is nothing new under the sun. And Steal like an Artist taught me the proper way to be inspired by others and made me feel like I could be “original”.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I said it earlier but I believe God made me to do what I’m doing. I was created to create. I enjoy the process of literally bringing an idea to life. Something that is only visible within one’s mind and making it visible to all. That is the most rewarding part.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgenesisjflores.godaddysites.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DPAAaZo_3NAcMgmbQ66AifTUAG62jrav4kYfp2Yj58XZhXTATJBT6QqspLfYoY_aem_Aa03Ya5rE1aXEIj6kTzSThnv2y1MJ0px7Z9R8ZpxQajeJhw3WBCvCvkylhUr_s28o_k&e=AT3dMHhJOy6QaoY5t6hwkig4hbYl141ksrLafsHanrDG4hDtSaKkdEWLO_KMLoSC_twpelPpOv8EXKxNoh9aNoWk7n6iyp0M5tLl8Eg85HsOXzbJ1gBXe3U
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genesis-flores-57647a229