Meet Justin Horstmann

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

Justin, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I’m lucky that creativity has always been naturally present in my psyche & life; it’s just a part of who I am. Keeping it alive, therefore, feels more like an exercise of maintenance, in which the most important thing seems to be staying committed to having fun. If I enjoy the creation process, it feels like a relaxing and therapeutic escape. I’m mindful to avoid mental traps like comparison, overworking concepts to death in the pursuit of perfection, and spending unnecessary energy on things that don’t further the craft (doom-scrolling or watching instructional videos is not the same as actually doing the work). I’m kind to myself, believing that creativity is accessed when all the other essentials of life, like physical health and obligations, are addressed and balanced.

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

I am a designer bridging the aesthetics of architectural illustration, outlandish imaginative concepts, and a deep love for warm, nostalgic textures. Years ago, I largely abandoned my architectural education to chase a newfound passion for graphic design, lending my eye for nearly a decade at a large 3D modeling software giant, where I learned the software and techniques I use today. Kidfue was born to exercise my creativity outside the tight confines of corporate brand guidelines. In short – Kidfue is my method of relaxation, an avenue for exploring techniques and uncovering new creative horizons. What started as a passion project with an audience of just friends and family has blossomed into opportunities to illustrate for diverse clients, from The New York Times to my favorite boutique audio firms, to a campaign for Pharrell Williams’ Humanrace. This project has far surpassed my wildest expectations, for which I am incredibly grateful.

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

First, showing up daily: when I was a kid, fully intent on becoming a syndicated cartoonist, I would wake up early before school and draw a cartoon every single day, just as my idols did. Even though the dream didn’t pan out, I attribute my current success to repeatedly showing up, often without deliberate intention, recognizing progress after the fact through a large volume of work. No single piece defines my work, just as no one comic defines a cartoonist.

Second, an education in architecture gave my illustrations a unique aesthetic. Though I admittedly couldn’t tell you the first thing about how a building actually comes together, I’d like to think that my visuals are largely shaped by that foundational knowledge.

Third, a sense of commitment and embracing limitation serves me well. I’m all about picking one workflow and set of tools and sticking with them; I don’t get lost in figuring out new programs or exploring new avenues if I don’t see the benefit. The deeper I know a limited toolset, the more creatively I can think, as I’m entering instinctive flow states, instead of getting lost in a haze of endless possibilities.

As for advice, I echo the same cliche mantras that rang true when I began my journey. Pick your thing and chase it relentlessly, putting in your 10,000 hours – which gets easier when you’re obsessed with what you do. Be kind to yourself, too. Creativity is fragile; comparison and negative self-talk are only detrimental, whereas having fun is far more sustainable.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

The rationale part of me wants to believe that being well-rounded is essential, but I’ve found much more success in my life by being niche and focusing intently on honing one specific set of skills. In a world of generalization, I wholeheartedly believe that chasing your thing, whatever that may be, is critical. I am where I am because of a unique gumbo of cartooning practices, an unrealized career path in architecture, and a niche career designing graphics for specific 3D software. Someone else’s unique background might push them to chase an entirely different artistic journey and aesthetic that’s more true to themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kidfue.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidfue/
• Other: https://kidfue.bandcamp.com