Creative of the week: Mr Graphicas talks about his experience with Nike

Good morning creatives! Today we launch our new section with a great artist from the world of design. It is an honor for us to have him. Sunday Lozano, as he is called, is a brilliant creative and a clear proof that if you follow your dreams and work hard, success is assured. Of Spanish origin, designer and illustrator in equal parts, he has an impeccable career doing work for Nike, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers or the University of California. From here we invite you to visit his portfolio at the following address and take a look at his catalog of works that have no waste.

Now we are going to share a few moments with him and talk about topics that concern the creative community a lot. But, let us start at the beginning:

Q: Tell us, Domingo, how did it all start? When did you discover that your world was the world of graphic design?

R: You could say that everything begins in childhood, at that moment where the pencil crosses your path and you do some scribbling. It is a peculiar sensation that is stored in the memory and that I can remember to this day. Spending the tip of the colored pencils, mixing and experimenting, making strokes that come out of your own hand is something I will always remember. From that moment, you feel totally in control of your creativity and participate in a series of concerns that push you to continue doing it.

The field of graphic design as a more specific facet was laid bare in my adolescence, when the digital world came to my hands. Until I was 15 years old, I did not have the opportunity to get a good computer equipment and that is when I began to open up horizons.

Q: Why graphic design? Is there an artist or work that inspired and influenced you as a creative?

R: Graphic design offered me a way to strengthen my concerns and feed all those purposes and emotions that I tried to shape through visual communication. Have on hand all the necessary and non-necessary tools to save ideas.

I could cite many artists or designers who have fascinated me over the years.
In my opinion, everything is part of a whole, that is, visual education is changing and in continuous movement. To cite only one artist would be not to name many others and I consider that all of them, like all of us, have something to say within this world of creativity.

Q: What is the best thing about your job? What is the worst?

R: The best thing about my job is knowing that what I do is unique. It is pulsating for the world of designers to have the tool of creation in their hand. A pencil, a paper, a pen or an eraser becomes an unlimited source of possibilities that tear the door to the world to send any message.
The best without a doubt is to be the alchemist of projects that will get you excited.

Worst? This is honestly a good question. When you are passionate about something, it is very difficult to find negative aspects. Although it is true that in my work the most "uncomfortable" part is the one that sometimes makes you despair, it is the one that sometimes causes great headaches, undoubtedly the phase of searching for ideas.

Q: Tell us three ingredients that you consider essential to be a good graphic artist.

R: Be Creative. Perseverance. Ambition.

Q: There are three myths that seem to haunt the figure of the designer. You as a professional, what do you think of the following myths? "Design is not a stable profession"

R: I do not agree. Every professional has to be good at what he does and above all he has to like what he does, underlining 500 times "he has to like it." When these two variables are given in an adequate way, the designer finds the way and above all finds his happiness as a professional. But I consider this to be applicable for all professions.

Q: "Graphic design (in the same way as all artistic professions) is less rigorous or serious than the rest of the professions"

R: Graphic design has suffered a lot in recent years, but this profession has always been highly respected by large entities. We have to work together and as a team, fortifying the values ​​and foundations that this union can contribute, awakening the curiosity of new restless minds.

Q: «To be a graphic designer you need to know how to draw»

R: In this profession you have to find your own balance, your strength. The best thing is to know how to defend yourself in everything, without trying to stand out in anything. Limits are just limits.

Q: If you had to highlight something about yourself as a professional, what would it be?

R: I am not very given to throwing praise on my head, but if I had to put a point of attention on my trajectory I would say that ambition and perseverance are my strengths.

Q: In some way an artist is a medium, he connects us with a parallel reality, with another conceptual system, he takes his audience to another world and makes them feel attracted to that world. How is the world your work connects us to? What characterizes your creations globally?

R: I try to reach the viewer through force. I consider that "graphic power" is the holy grail of the creative world, the orb and Pandora's box that unleashes a flow of emotions and sensations that surround the viewer. I always try to confuse, overwhelm, excite, excite, stun and amaze through my works.
All my works are characterized by their great amount of detail, both in the graphic and in the conceptual part. Although my work has evolved a lot since my beginnings, they will always keep some premises that are: Powerful Concepts and Large amount of details.

Q: How do you resolve an inspiration crisis?

R: My advice to all creatives is to enrich yourself daily with graphic-level sources, watching movies or reading about this world or many others are techniques that will prevent these crises from happening. Still, if we have a bad creative moment, it is best to disconnect. When a mind is blocked we have to introduce it into a completely different dynamic, in order to restart it in a way. Going for a walk, enjoying a good sunset or sitting down to watch the urban traffic are very effective ways that will save us from moments when we do not know what to do, but we have to do something.

Q: How was the experience working for Nike?

R: Working for this great brand was an incredible experience on a personal level and passionate on a professional level. I was given the opportunity to develop a project for a great NBA player. He and his representative liked my idea so much that a meeting was arranged with the entity that owned his image rights, Nike, INC. After a meeting at the headquarters together with this great star, a large number of creatives and managers agreed to use my work to promote the image of the team and specifically of this player, once the championship was over. Without a doubt, I take with me the experience and the great professional load learned during that time, where I was able to rub shoulders with some of those considered internationally as the greats of the advertising industry. Having the recognition of this brand is something very important for any artist and creative, although I consider that you have to keep your feet on the ground, keep working and learning every day from many colleagues and professionals in my union.

Q: If you had to give a design student advice, what would it be?

R: Always do what you like to do. The world of design is not limited to design, you can develop a multitude of skills from this branch of creativity. Learn and observe everything around you and above all always try to come up with creative solutions.
As a creative, I leave a premise in which I have always set my work: »Everything that is in your mind can also be on paper«

Q: Do you have a project in mind? Do you have any long-term goals?

R: Keep learning, keep creating and keep enjoying each professional in the union are my main considerations. Someone once told me: "worry about what you can control, the rest are gifts that life will bring as a reward for your effort." Of course we all have goals or aspirations, dreams and ambitions. I am always open to work and professional expansion due to having a restless mind.

Of course, if you continue like this, you will achieve everything you set out to do. We are honored by your presence in Creativos Online And from here we wish you many more triumphs throughout your career. And for you, we leave you a selection of his works so that you can delight in his good work, remember that you can find all his works in his portfolio: Mr Graphics Official