We recently connected with Imani Nuñez and have shared our conversation below.

Imani, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I have worked on many meaningful projects because there are so many formidable people that have given me incredible opportunities to support them. One project that I will never forget is being able to Art Direct Essence Festival of Culture 2022.

Throughout my life, I have been taught about the power of my identity and the riches that come with my culture. As I looked for places that felt like home, I found the Caribbean Culture Center African Diaspora Institute. There I had the pleasure of meeting many iconic leaders, one of them being Susan L. Taylor, a former Editor and Chief at Essence. Seeing her there, celebrating the diasporic impacts of blackness was a powerful moment for me, and opened my mind to further pathways of global unity and empowerment.

It is in this spirit of community that I continue to create. Which is why I was honored when my art direction and a version of a contributing tagline were chosen for Essence Festival of Culture 2022. I felt so fortunate to be working with a team of extraordinary people, championing black genius and creating spaces for unity at one of the largest festivals in the nation. To see hundreds of thousands of people attend day after day, to find joy or healing or strength, touched me at my core.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a Multidisciplinary Creative that strives to use my talents to serve and make a positive impact in the world.

I was raised in an environment full of rich and bold expression. As a Black Dominican, Puerto Rican woman raised in the Bronx I was surrounded by different people, languages, rhythms, flavors, ideas etc. My experiences showed me the multiplicity of expression, which is both inspiring and influential to how I approach my work. I enjoy using multiple mediums (such as type, motion, photography, audio, video, etc) and combining them to see how they interact with each other. I also find myself studying different art forms and learning new skills, to create a deeper and more enriching connection with others.

I work to develop honest and expressive experiences to shed light on unsuspecting insights, forgotten histories, and untold stories. With truthful communication we can get a better understanding of each other, the world, and the role we play in it.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

There is no blueprint for your success.

Yes, I like to keep myself informed of the tools and skills that are commonly used in my field and study those that have come before me, but there are many paths to success. My approach does not have to adopt all current working systems, designs, and ideas. I had to get comfortable with trusting my creativity and my ideas even if it was not commonplace for others. Having a different path offers new perspectives, solutions and ultimately innovation. So I embrace growing with intention instead of looking for the blueprint.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Being authentic and aligning myself with communities that are a part of the work I love, is how I was able to grow as an artist. Around the time I was acquiring my Masters in Branding and Integrated Communications I was doing a lot of freelance work. I really enjoyed the diversity and autonomy of my projects. I started locally and networked within the places that aligned with my own mission. I truly enjoyed going the extra mile for them because the work was something I could really throw myself into. It wasn’t until I started getting more gigs that I noticed that every client became an extension of my “brand”. The word-of-mouth referrals held so much more weight than any pitch I had given.

Contact Info: [email protected]

• Website: https://www.imaninunez.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/profoundly_imani/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imani-nu%C3%B1ez/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGuBrFQDsBVUYaV3PU3oaOw
• Other: https://www.negrosinpero.com/

Image Credits
Essence Communications Inc and Imani Nuñez