We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Malcolm Bellew a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Malcolm, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

Because design is literally about making things look better, there’s this built-in perception that the person behind it has it all figured out—that if you can make something look right, you must have life and business right too.

The truth is, I don’t. I’m a fragile, indecisive human being with constantly shifting interests, just trying to build something real. Most of what people see through Misled Media—whether it’s a custom screen-printed piece, a branding project, or an apparel drop—is made with intention to feel bigger than it is. It’s storytelling, structure, and a little bit of delusion wrapped in discipline and hard work. That combination is what keeps Misled Media moving forward.

People sometimes assume that because the design looks cohesive, the person behind it must be too. But that’s not the case. What I’ve learned is that the polish and the imperfection can coexist. Every piece I make—every shirt, logo, or illustration—comes from a place of building something solid out of uncertainty.

At its core, Misled Media isn’t about looking perfect. It’s about staking a claim, setting up the foundation, and closing the gaps between where I am and where I want to be. The creative process is ongoing—it’s repetition, trial and error, and a steady grind toward a vision that keeps evolving.

Being misunderstood taught me to stop worrying about being seen as “figured out.” The work itself is the statement. It’s a reflection of growth, resilience, and the belief that even the smallest, most personal projects can feel monumental when they’re made with real intention.

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 grew up in Cleveland as a latchkey kid and kind of a misfit. People kept telling me to follow a certain path, but I quickly realized that what I loved—art, music, creating—didn’t really fit into the usual mold. That brought a lot of self-doubt and imposter feelings early on, constantly comparing myself to people who seemed like they had it all figured out. Over time, I learned everyone’s journey is different, and that’s what makes it interesting.

I’ve always gravitated toward creativity. As a kid, I would sketch on anything I could find—desks, notebooks, even walls—and play music whenever I had the chance. Being creative was grounding; it felt like something constant was with me, even when everything else felt uncertain.

I first got into design in vocational school back in 2006, but it didn’t stick. Years later, I went to Cuyahoga Community College, and by 2019 I graduated as the top designer in my class with an Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design & Visual Communication. Around that same time, screen printing came into my life through a friend in the punk scene. A professor gave me a small press, and from the first pull of the squeegee, I knew this was my thing—a way to take all that creative energy and make it tangible.

That eventually led to Misled Media. I run it as a mix of custom screen printing, design projects, and other creative work (like window murals). Nothing is rigid—things shift constantly, and adaptability is part of the job. The name is meaningful to me because it represents feeling a little lost and finding your way anyway. It’s something I’ve seen in my own journey, and in the people, bands, and businesses I get to work with.

What I’m proudest of is just sticking with it—keeping at it even when it’s messy or uncertain. Every project is a combination of hard work, persistence, and experimentation, and it’s all built around the same curiosity I had as a kid. If there’s one thing I want people to know about me or Misled Media, it’s this: don’t be afraid to embrace your differences, follow your instincts, and make something real with your own hands. The process might be messy, but that’s where the magic happens. When the dust settles, one day you’ll look back and say “wow”. I can’t wait to keep saying “wow”.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn was trying to be like everyone else. For a long time, it felt safer to blend in—walk around “at ease,” look like the pack. But the cost of that attempted safety is huge. You miss all the unexplored routes, the “you” part of life. You start ignoring what feels true to you because you’re too busy conforming, too focused on not sticking out. You gotta get lost once in a while, I say.

I remember (in school) how gross it always felt trying to act like the crowd. Getting it wrong, not being accepted—it just sucked the life out of creativity and curiosity. I realized I was willingly robbing myself of what it means to be a space creature on this earth, to actually live outside the lines, and just be. More importantly be YOU.

Now, I just do my own thing. Inherently, there will be people who won’t like what you do anyhow, so why waste time trying to make them? That doesn’t mean everyone has to live like that—if someone’s comfortable being an NPC instead of a main character, that’s fine—but for me, the only way to make meaningful work and stay sane was to stop chasing approval and start following what feels true.

That mindset shapes everything I do with Misled Media—the prints, the design work, the projects. It’s all about carving your own path, embracing your quirks, and not apologizing for them.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think the first step is just giving artists space—both literally and figuratively—to explore, fail, and grow without constant judgment or pressure to “perform.” Society often values productivity over curiosity, and creativity doesn’t always follow a straight line. If you want a thriving creative ecosystem, you have to allow people to experiment, take risks, and sometimes make things that don’t make immediate sense.

Financial support matters too—grants, residencies, fair compensation for work. But beyond money, it’s about respect for time, process, and individuality. Artists thrive when they feel seen for what they’re actually doing, not just what society thinks “creative success” should look like.

For me, running Misled Media, I’ve learned that communities that embrace experimentation and celebrate the messy, imperfect side of creation are the ones that really flourish. It’s less about chasing trends and more about fostering curiosity, supporting hands-on practice, and trusting people to find their own paths. If society can provide that kind of environment—space, patience, and respect—creatives can make work that’s meaningful, innovative, and lasting.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.misled.media
• Instagram: @misled.media
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misledxmedia
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malcolm-bellew/
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/gutterfly216