Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Irene Kadir. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Irene, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
The right thing my parents did was “disagree” with me when I wanted to pursue my career outside of my comfort zone. My parents are very hardworking people. He is a creative person but also disciplined when it comes to time and work. One lesson he has always taught me: “Trust is expensive. Once you break it, you lose it all. So, you must protect it when you have it.” My mom helps my dad run the business. She taught me that being independent is important—not because you should do everything by yourself, but because you need to stand on your own two feet.
I used to be the type of kid who always said yes to what my parents wanted. But there was a turning point when I realized I had been filling out my parents’ checklist, but I didn’t have one of my own. I asked myself, “Am I happy with what I’m doing? Do I really want to stop exploring or settle down?” I saw my friends either already settled down or continuing to follow their parents’ checklist. That’s when I realized I wasn’t ready to close my chapter here; something was missing.
I thought a graphic design career would be my final destination, but it wasn’t. I ended up slightly shifting my career to become a visual designer. It’s a mix of graphic design and UI design. I’ve always been passionate about creating apps that people can use in daily life—whether to help, entertain, or inspire users. I love creating things that help me understand what people need. What I enjoy most about this career is that I can still use my graphic design knowledge while learning new things outside of my box. It’s both a double joy and a fun challenge.
This is when the disagreement with my parents arose because the job was based in the US. After four years of long-distance arguments, I slowly understood that their objections stemmed from fears of separation (being so far away), adjusting to a different culture, and not continuing their checklist from me. During those four years, I learned that support doesn’t always come in the form of positive words; it’s about how you choose what supports you. I chose to see their “disagreement” as a major motivation to chase my passion and personal growth, so their fears could eventually be put to rest. During the 4 years process, I learned they didn’t truly understand what I wanted because we had never talked about it. I learned that when they said “no,” they wanted to see how determined I was to pursue my career and passion. I learned to speak my mind and realized that it’s okay to say “no.” I learned to stand my ground.
Looking back, it was a huge step to move from the comfortable life I had in my country to starting over in another country. It hasn’t been an easy road, but it’s been worth it, and it has actually brought me to a better relationship with my parents. Last year, my parents told me for the first time how they were proud of me for not giving up on my dreams and for still applying all the discipline he had ever taught me. All these lessons have helped me grow—learning to listen before speaking, understanding the bigger picture, and finding solutions that meet halfway—all of which I’ve applied to my design career.
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.
I am a visual designer at Miles in San Francisco Bay Area, responsible for building the design and visual system, branding identity, UI design, and motion design. After graduating and starting my career as a graphic designer, I realized that I wanted to be the kind of designer who helps solve everyday problems through apps (or any new digital innovations). There’s something deeply meaningful about this, as it allows me to learn to be more empathetic—not just as a designer, but also as a user. I’ve learned to see things from the users’ perspective and how to connect with them through my designs. User feedback, whether positive or negative, always drives me to create better designs, and it has been a key part of my career and personal growth.
Outside of work, I am an artist who enjoys creating illustrations. Although I also create illustrations for work, they are different from my personal projects. I choose themes and styles that are far from what I do professionally. When it comes to my own art, I love to create without boundaries. I believe that keeping art as a hobby allows me to stay in love with it. It serves as a relaxing way to end my day. I enjoy creating cute characters that often represent people or even myself. Through my art, I can express how I feel or share my thoughts. Some of my illustrations aim to cheer people up or spread positive vibes, and occasionally, I include a little humor.
I fell in love with drawing when I was four years old. My parents bought me a coloring book, and I was amazed by the variety of crayons and pencils. They soon realized I wasn’t just interested in coloring but also in drawing, as they noticed that my book was filled with doodles. Like many kids, I loved drawing mountains with rice fields or horses near the mountains. However, I drew these scenes not just for fun, but to capture moments from my vacations, so I could remember them later. To this day, I still create art in the same way, paying attention to even the smallest details to reflect real-life events.
My simple goal as an artist and designer is to inspire others to pursue their passion and never give up. The process is a more valuable lesson than the outcome; it reveals small details that are often forgotten. Stepping back doesn’t mean resting—it’s part of the journey, allowing time to understand and reflect on what to improve and what to let go. I hope that my designs and art can make people’s days brighter.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the freedom of self-expression. Through my art, I can share my unique perspective, whether it’s based on personal experiences or a quote that resonates with me. Small details in art can convey deep meaning. I also feel that art creates a connection with people who can relate to it. I experience a lot of joy when I can share my art with this hectic world, but at the same time, I feel excited when I see a new blank canvas, ready to start the next piece.
On the other hand, as a designer, seeing my creative ideas come to life is one of the greatest rewards. Being a designer is about problem-solving—bridging communication effectively with my users. Even feedback is a valuable lesson, helping me understand the user’s point of view and contributing to the growth of the product or design. Whether as an artist or a designer, I’ve discovered things about myself that have changed how I perceive the world and how I see things in a new light.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
If there’s one thing I’ve been unlearning over the past four years, it’s the mindset of “being alone is lonely.” Back then, I always thought that being alone was a bad thing—that it meant you didn’t have friends or didn’t like to socialize. People often thought there was something wrong with me, or viewed it in a negative light. This judgment really ate at me, and it turned me into someone who couldn’t be alone, believing I’d be happier if people were around me. It made me emotionally dependent, which affected everything. The worst part was becoming emotionally unstable, and eventually, it turned into a fear.
One event, however, changed my life and perspective on this mindset. Being alone helped me think clearly, giving me the space to recharge from the busyness of life and to focus on what I’m doing. In fact, being alone has become an important part of my creative process, allowing me to find new ideas for my designs and my art.
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Credits are mine