We recently connected with Mickt Flior and have shared our conversation below.

Mickt, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

So, I’d like to frame this question like this: “how to make sure you’re creating meaningful work (or projects?) as a designer/ creative?” What does it even mean for it to be “meaningful”? 

If you label yourself as a designer, an artist, or a creative worker, the first thing you need to ask yourself is: Meaningful for whom? Who has the power to determine the worth of my work?

This question has many answers, but the first one thas to be “meaningful for yourself”.

Remember you can only last so long doing a job that pays really well but that you personally hate. Over time, you might become miserable doing something that go against your morals and principals, or that doesn’t benefit anyone in any way. I know I have, and that’s why after getting my Masters degree in Graphic Design at NC State in 2020, I chose to start investing in myself. I chose to belive in myself, and spend my time on this earth doing work that me and my community can be proud of. So, once you’ve made that choice, you need to make sure that you’re putting some time and effort towards work that make you smile (literally!).

If you’re someone who’s just starting to realize you want to pursue a creative career, but you still have your 9-5 job, I’d say spend some time learning about the field you want to be in, and then some time developing personal pieces around it. Show your friends, your peers, talk about it and get their opinions on it. I know this can be quite scary in the beginning, so if people are mostly negative, search for an online community where other creatives gather to share feedback. It will definetely lift your spirits, and constructive feedback is what you need to move forward.

At the end of each project, ask yourself: “Did I have fun doing this?” “Do I like the end result? Why?”. The answers to these questions will give you what you need to look for in order to feel satisfied with your next projects. In my case, since I work with visual media, I’m always in search of something that looks original and different. Something that quickly catches your attention while browsing around, or make you go “wow, this is cool!”. I’m always trying something a bit different from my previous projects, and maybe you will need to do this to, until you can identify the industries or projects that make you the most fullfilled. And for whatever it is, believe me, there’s a market out there. 

I have several design and illustration projects that I consider meaningful, not because of how much I was paid for it, or how many awards I received. Truth be told, my favorite projects are conceptual, personal. There’s so much freedom in creating things for the fun of it, without having to fit in a box of expectations. To be an artist, you don’t necessarily need to make a ton selling your pieces. You just need to create art that means something to you. Remember, the most (now) famous painters of the past were people who were not fully appreciated while they were alive. And why is it that after their death, suddenly, everyone cares about that they did, or wants to sell it for millions? Every industry has a group of decision makers, and that group usually “determines” what’s considered good or bad. Over the decades, the members of that group shift, the perception on what’s good might change, or they might just have never seen most of the work that is put out there! Did you ever think about that?

So, at first, just worry about doing projects that you love, perfect your craft, and share those projects with your community via a portfolio or social media. Keep creating and, over time, you’ll notice that other people (who also consider this same work that you love beautiful) will want to work with you. They will be drawn to you because what you’re creating is exactly what they’d like to see more of, or want to purchase, for example.

Mickt, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a BiPOC first generation Brazilian Illustrator & designer, currently living in the USA. 
I specialize in the advertising, editorial, and design (as hold a Masters in graphic & User Experience design) industries. I’ve always loved drawing and storytelling. From a very young age, I’d write and draw fantasy picture books and decorate my bedroom wall with my drawings (I’m sure many creatives have done that, haha!), so majoring in design seemed like an easy decision. Over the years, I felt the need to reconnect with my creative side and started freelancing as an illustrator for commercial clients. I’ve partnered with multinational clothing brands and small local businesses and I’ve loved both experiences.

What sets me apart as an illustrator is my ability with problem solving. Many times my clients reach out with an idea that’s only in their minds and, as a user experience designer, I’m trained in helping people communicate ideas so that I can build exactly what they need, even if they don’t know what it is yet. I love collaborating with people from different backgrounds to figure out the best way to visually tell a story. With commercial illustration, it’s usually about what it’s being used for, rather than a specific style or medium. Who are the people viewing it and in what context? How are they using your product? What are the things they are looking for, according to their age group, cultural background, and expectations on this experience? I’m great at sketching but I also enjoy digging up on some research to better attend my collaborators.

Many illustrators are masters of a specific tool, but all my mentors used to say something that I’ve come to realize is a fact: To be sucessful as an illustrator in the advertising and editorial industries, being good at illustration is only 10% of the work. The other 90% is problem solving and people skills. Knowing how to listen, how to translate the needs of your team in an efficient way, and how to form long lasting relationships.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

To use illustration to communicate wonderful & memorable experiences.
 There’s so much purpose in developing a poster for a music festival or a rock band (I love doing those!), or in sketching a new label for a wine that’s going to be given to others as a gift. We need to tell a story, to evoke emotion, and make you feel something when you get in contact with that work. Growing up, we might have heard that “art”- in the traditional sense – serves no practical purpose and isn’t a lucrative career, but the creative industry is there to prove that illustration is indeed a powerful tool to drive consumer decision-making. For that reason, I love partnering with brands that want to get creative on how to present their products.

To evoke emotion, color plays a huge role. I want my work to transpire the personality of the story it is helping to tell. In my personal pieces, I communicate boldness, happines, audacity, and creativity. I’m developing a style around a limited color palette where warm & bright tones are paired with dark variations of the same colors (when needed) to create more contrast and visual impact. This is what I want all my pieces to be: visually impactful. To cause a long lasting positive impact on the viewer. In my professional relationships, I want my audience and collaborators to know that the work I put out, the interviews I give, the products I choose to work with, all speak to the real me. I’m a real person, approachable and love to exchange ideas with others. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch via Behance or other social channels if you want to collaborate!

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

That the people at the top places in the creative industry are the best at what they do. I know this sounds weird to say, and you’re probably thinking “Of course they are! it’s only logical”. The reality of it is that those people are not necessarily “the best” at the craft, per se. They are the ones who tried. The ones who showed up, the most resilient and persistent ones that, when things got difficult, kept pursuing their passion, therefore constantly improving their skills. And one day, one beautiful day, someone who believed in their work gave them the opportunity that would open doors for the rest of their career. They’re prepared and delivered great results. When a new opportunity came, people already knew their name, already trusted their work, so they got the job again, and so on. Why am I saying all this? It’s to encourage you, who reads this article right now. It can happen to any one of us, but it is necessary that we stay passionate and keep sharing with the world the work that we love the most.
      

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.behance.net/micktflior
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artsymickt/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micktflior/