Meet Samantha Nava Torres

We recently connected with Samantha Nava Torres and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Samantha, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?

Self-discipline is hard to develop and even harder to maintain, especially nowadays, with so many distractions around us. I believe my self-discipline stems from my drive and hunger to achieve my dreams and grow both personally and professionally.
To be honest, I had a Montessori education for most of my life, which taught me independence, time management, and task prioritization, it helped me to understand how to solve problems by myself and how capable we are as humans. However, as we grow up, there aren’t many guides to help you get where you want to go. To be honest, everything clicked a few years ago when I realized that no one was coming to save me. No one was going to push me or remind me of my goals. It was all in my hands from that moment forward.

One of the biggest challenges in maintaining self-discipline as a young adult is navigating life after school. Once you graduate, say, after college, the world suddenly feels confusing. For most of our lives, we’ve been conditioned to thrive in a meritocracy—you do a task, you get a grade, and that’s it. You either pass or fail. But in the professional world, there’s no one to grade you. You have to pave your path, adjust when things go wrong, and stay on track even when the road gets bumpy.
In moments of frustration—whether it’s not getting the job I wanted or being rejected from a program I worked hard for—the next step is always the hardest ( getting yourself out of the box and trying again). That’s when self-discipline becomes my lifeline. It pushes me to keep going even when the process feels overwhelming.
Here’s the thing: I believe that to cultivate discipline, you need a clear vision of what you want—a goal that feels bigger than life itself. It may sound boring, but the key is to believe in yourself, have faith that you’ll achieve what you want, and, most importantly, put in the work. It will pay off, at least it has worked out for me.
To wrap this up, I’ll share a story. Last year, I was feeling down about not being where I wanted to be professionally. I felt lost and unsure of what my next step should be. During a conversation with my best friends, one of them told me, “You know, Sam, big dreams have more steps to climb than small ones. If you want a small dream, you’re already there”.

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

My story, Well, I am a proud Mexican. I was born in a country that breathes art and beauty, and ever since I was a little girl, I’ve felt a deep need to express myself through art. For me, art is so much more than color, painting, or sculpture—it’s about emotions, feelings, and dialogue. That’s why the complexity of it all was so magnetic to me. There’s something about art and design that fills a special place in my heart. The things I cannot express through words—or that simply don’t exist in writing—come alive in art and its many expressions.
My family always encouraged me to do what made me happy and discover my passion. That’s how I found something that truly made my heart race: fashion. Yes, fashion—the “frivolous,” intimidating industry that somehow feels as chaotic and beautiful as a Jackson Pollock painting. I’ve always been curious about history and human behavior, and when I made the connection between fashion, art, and history, it all clicked.
As a child, I always had a magazine with me—Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, etc. Of course, they were my mom’s, but they became my first mood boards and my introduction to this fascinating world. At first, they helped me style my Barbies; later, they taught me about designers, photographers, and their unique visions.
It all sounds dreamy—art, fashion, poetry—but it’s not that simple. The fashion industry has so many paths that it can feel overwhelming. Since I loved fashion and had a creative personality, my instinct was to study fashion design. But life had other plans.
I decided to take a gap year to apply to different universities and clarify my professional path (as if anyone can decide everything at 18, right?). During that year, I enrolled in an intensive one-year Couture course to see if I genuinely enjoyed the design side of fashion. I quickly realized it wasn’t for me. I loved fashion, but I didn’t love that part of it, what I have to say about my time in this course is that I learned to appreciate the craft so much more, and I attested how interconnected fashion and art are.
So, I decided to study Design and Visual Arts at Universidad Iberoamericana. This program allowed me to focus on Editorial Design while pursuing my love for fashion and art. I seized every opportunity to tailor my projects to fashion, enchanted by the industry, and dreaming of creating campaigns.
During my gap year, I also started a fashion blog on Instagram, @thesblogbysam. It was a personal challenge to stay connected to the industry and continue learning. I began by sharing my fashion illustrations—interpretations of collections or my own designs. Over time, I started sharing opinions on various topics in the fashion world, and it gradually became my passion project.
This blog led to my first job at The Spectrum Studios as a Junior Art Director and Stylist while I was still in college—and I still collaborate with them as an Art Director today, creating fashion campaigns and visual productions. (Can you believe it?) It also connected me with my business partner, Paola Villamayor, with whom I’m working on a very exciting project that will be coming out soon.
My blog has since evolved into a more journalistic approach to fashion. It’s allowed me to explore my vision and work on projects I never imagined being part of. As my art and projects became an extension of my creative identity, I decided to take a leap and launched my digital creative agency, Tó Atelier Créatif (you can find me on Instagram at @toateliercreatif). Through this agency, I’ve worked on amazing projects ranging from branding and art direction to consultancy and artistic endeavors. It’s been a challenging yet incredibly rewarding journey.
Editorial design, fashion, graphic design, and art are deeply interconnected, and I love being part of this world. I hope to continue growing, collaborating with inspiring brands, and meeting fascinating people along the way.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1) Personal Research is Key: Stay Curious
We all dreaded writing essays and researching difficult topics in school, but in the professional world, knowledge is power. The more you know, the easier it is to understand your industry and the world around you. Staying up-to-date with the niche you work in is essential—obsession beats talent every time. It’s amazing how research can open doors to new perspectives and enrich your creativity.
I’ve always loved reading and learning about new topics. I find it mesmerizing how everything is interconnected—things you’d never consider often have surprising, unexpected links. My advice? Stay hungry for knowledge. Be passionate about the field you’re in (or want to enter) and keep learning, always.
While researching your industry is key, it’s equally important to look beyond your bubble. Understanding what’s happening outside your world is crucial, especially if you’re a designer or creative. Spoiler alert: design isn’t about you; it’s about others.
From personal experience, I’ve learned more from clients and their ideas (even the craziest ones) than I ever did in school. Design and art are about understanding other people’s needs and wants. Marketing and design are inherently manipulative in the sense that they aim to influence consumer behavior. Every ad you see—whether in a magazine, a billboard, or on social media—is the product of exhaustive research and talented minds turning information into profits.

2) Start. Just Start. We Are Never Fully Prepared.
I’m sorry to break it to you, but we’re never 100% ready when starting something new. There’s always more to learn, but the only way to truly learn is by doing.
Let me tell you a story. When the Director of The Spectrum Studios approached me, I was still a student in college. I wasn’t a professional by any means—I had plenty of theoretical knowledge but little practical experience. Sure, I had styled myself and my friends for years, but I’d never done a professional photoshoot.
On my first day as a stylist, I felt completely lost. But I went with the “fake it till you make it” approach. I swallowed my fear and ego, and I dove in, learning from others as I went. I was very fortunate to work with a team that allowed me to grow, but if I’d waited until I felt “ready,” I would have missed out on joining an amazing production company.
Of course, preparation is still important. It’s how you evolve and stay ready for new challenges (aka opportunities). But don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back. We’re all scared of new things, even with experience, but the important thing is to take the leap. You might just end up loving it.

3) Learn From Others’ Victories and Failures: Observe and Listen
This one took me a while to learn. When we first step out of college—or our little bubble—we often think we’re invincible like nothing can stop us. Surprise! That’s far from the truth. We have to be humble enough to be willing to learn from others, our life itself will humble us.
Learning from others is a skill you need to cultivate. Listen. Observe. While everyone else is busy focusing on themselves or distracted by their ego, pay attention. Whether it’s your boss, colleagues, mentors, idols, or even strangers, everyone has something valuable to teach you.
That said, be discerning. Learn from both the good and bad. Watch how someone successfully lands a client or nails a meeting, but also study how they fail—so you can avoid making the same mistakes. Observing and listening can take you further than you think. Being able to read the room and act accordingly is crucial to getting where you want to go.
It’s tough, but learning from someone else’s failures can save you time and trouble. Of course, we all fail eventually, and others will learn from our mistakes too—that’s just life.
Finally, when it comes to taking advice, be selective. Seek guidance from those who have real experience and success in the area you’re navigating. There are plenty of “vultures” out there who aren’t trustworthy, but there are also mentors, friends, and professionals who genuinely want to see you succeed. Choose your advisors wisely.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Yes, I’m always looking to collaborate with other creatives and work with new clients on original projects. I would love to partner with more people and brands in the beauty and fashion world to create compelling visual stories and explore new themes with artists and fascinating individuals. I would love to collaborate with photographers and/or editorials on new topics that align more with the gen-z and late millennial vision of what’s to come and the true needs of young consumers.
No matter your role, if you’re passionate about discussing fashion, art, photography, or human behavior throughout history, feel free to reach out. I love exploring new ideas and expanding my knowledge through meaningful dialogue and cool collaborations.
If you’d like to get in touch, just send me an email at toateliercreatif@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram—either at my blog, @thesblogbysam, or my agency, Tó Atelier Créatif (@toateliercreatif). Say hi and share the project you have in mind—I’d love to hear about it!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thesblogbysam / @toateliercreatif
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-nava-torres-6b3a86222

Image Credits

Photography in campaign photo-credits to Alejandro Gomez (The Spectrum Studios)