Meet Bradley Looney

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

Bradley, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

My journey toward developing confidence and learning to love myself hasn’t always been straightforward. There were sharp turns, obstacles, and sometimes the path led to a cliff. I don’t think this path ever truly ends. I believe it becomes smoother and calmer as we move through life, but there will always be twists and challenges to face.
Growing up, I was the quiet, queer, artsy kid who often found comfort in doodling on the corners of my history homework with my head down. Most of the time, I just wanted to blend in. Like many others, all I wanted was to fit in and be “normal.” But as I got older, I realized those doodles weren’t just idle sketches—they were a form of expression. Through art, I found a way to connect with others, to touch them. It felt like I had rediscovered a voice I hadn’t known I’d lost.
I realized that my art was a gift, and the more authentic, raw, and personal the message, the more powerful and impactful my voice became. I made a promise to myself: no matter what life throws at me, I will always stay true to who I am. My confidence and self-esteem stem from my authenticity—using my voice and talent to create change while surrounding myself with strong, loving, and genuine people whose voices are also meant to be heard.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Right now in my creative career, I’m pushing myself to learn and absorb as much as I can to grow my design skills, build connections with people, and establish my name in the design world. Surprisingly, I haven’t been designing for very long. If you had asked me a year ago what I wanted my career to be, I probably would have said a painter! I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember, but when I started school, I felt stagnant, like I wasn’t truly learning or being challenged to improve.

Then, I took a graphic design class as an elective, and for the first time, a professor told me my work wasn’t good. My immediate reaction was, “Well, now I have to be good at this.” That moment sparked something in me—I fell in love with the challenge of learning something new and the thrill of solving the puzzle of what a client wants. It was completely new, and I became obsessed.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Communication is something I emphasize a lot! It’s incredibly important to learn how to communicate in a healthy, productive way—not just in your personal life, but equally in your professional life. One of the most impactful lessons from my design journey has been learning how to take criticism. When I first started, any critique felt like a punch in the gut. But instead of letting it discourage me, I used those comments as motivation to improve and push myself to create even better designs.

Another key lesson for me has been finding a healthy work-life balance. There have been times when I got so consumed by work that I’d forget to eat or sleep. On the flip side, there were times I spent too much time socializing and not enough on my creative projects, which left me unsatisfied with the work I produced. Now, I feel like I’ve reached a point where I have a busy schedule and create work I’m proud of, while still making time for myself and my friends.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Yes! I love collaborating with others and building new friendships! Creating fun and quirky designs is my passion, so I’m always excited to be part of creative, colorful, and funky projects. Feel free to connect with me on Instagram or LinkedIn to discuss any cool ideas or collaborations!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://readymag.website/u1580951397/4821106/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradley_looney/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Image Credits

Emily Grey