Meet Emilio J. Arellano

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emilio J. Arellano. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Emilio J., so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

It’s funny – I personally believe that I haven’t yet fully overcome imposter syndrome. It’s a work in progress, which is very common in the creative journey. After starting in the independent film community of South America, freelancing my way through life as a designer, pursuing a master’s degree, working with some big-name brands, receiving multiple rejection letters from job applications, and now working in a state-of-the-art creative university, I have embraced it as a part of my personal process and should catalyze it for good.

Imposter syndrome can look different for everyone – some feel a sense of “not doing enough,” others attribute their success to external factors. Undermining our accomplishments is common too, or even shutting down good ideas for fear of criticism. Here are some things I’ve learned from these feelings:

Comparison kills creativity. As creatives, we tend to compare ourselves with others, even subconsciously, in the search for recognition and experience. For me, the first step was to acknowledge that I was repeating patterns of evaluation and self-sabotage during creative performance. These patterns could be as simple as using self-degrading words playfully or hesitating to share my ideas in a room full of talented people. The things we say about ourselves slowly build dysfunctional beliefs that can significantly damage our self-worth. Also, ideas kept to ourselves might lose momentum and be forgotten.

After reading Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and working in creative higher education, I realized that in creative environments, it’s easy to fall into a competitive cycle, which can be harmful if not navigated effectively. The book taught me there’s no such thing as a “dream job”; what exists is a well-designed career, functional to our needs and belief systems. The creative process is a journey that never ends – we must be honest with ourselves, embrace everything this journey brings, accept it gracefully, and keep learning from the person we’re becoming.

Most of my life, I’ve been either the “youngest one” in the room or the most junior (if we consider years of experience). My ideas have been pushed back, replicated, taken, and even celebrated – an array of outcomes that have formed my mission statement: to become a facilitator for those who’ve felt the same way. This sense of purpose has allowed me to transform imposter syndrome into a solution-oriented mindset.

Some practical limits I’ve set for myself are:

– Social Media Management: I’ve found it extremely valuable to control my use and attention on social media, as it amplifies comparison and portrays only the final, biased outcomes of creatives, usually skipping the process. Studies show that social media “likes” and “shares” trigger dopamine release, reinforcing the need for validation. This creates a false sense of productivity, diverting focus from actual projects, leading to unfulfilled tasks and a sense of failure. A study by the University of Salzburg found that 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point, with social media contributing to it, especially among creatives. Another report from Working Not Working revealed that 68% of creative professionals feel social media makes them feel they’re not doing enough in their careers, despite achieving significant milestones. Social media has its perks, but we all know it also has its pitfalls.

– Mental Health: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy made me realize how my emotions, past experiences, systematic beliefs, and automatic responses had a direct effect on my inner self – and therefore, my creative outcomes. Research by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found a direct correlation between time spent on social media and mental health challenges. Users who spend over two hours per day on social media are significantly more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation, which can amplify imposter syndrome. As creatives, our minds are the most precious assets we must care for – they house our inner child, nurture our present selves, and shape our future personas.

– Visual Cues Matter: I also designed graphic posters with my personal vision, core values, short-term goals, and long-term goals, and I framed them as part of my studio setup. Visual cues reminding us of our “why” unconsciously become a support system around us.

– Quantifying Ourselves: Those with imposter syndrome are often high-achievers who may need quantifiable measures to recognize they’ve reached their goals—and perhaps even exceeded them. While it’s beneficial early on to give that extra 20%, this practice can backfire, leading to creative burnout. Setting work limits, tracking quantifiable outcomes, and measuring creative progress help keep us grounded. Examples include completed projects per quarter, average time per project, website traffic, revenue per project, number of people in your network, and the joy found in each project.

If we’re facing imposter syndrome, it’s probably because we’re navigating uncharted territories or spaces new to us. That takes courage and intention, and we should be proud of each step along the way. No one taught us fully how to do it, but as long as we’re trying, we’re moving forward.
Feeling imposter syndrome is relatively normal in our highly connected society. Ultimately, it’s our choice to focus on our own trajectory and treat it with respect. There’s no such thing as perfection or a final level of expertise; we’re always becoming first-starters in every aspect of our lives. Since this feeling is common, it’s worth celebrating that it only presents itself when we’ve already taken the first step and are on the path to something meaningful.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m exploring my path in Human-Centered Design—a methodology that places user needs and problems at the core of the Design Thinking process. Currently, I’m applying these principles in my role as the Academic Coordinator for SCADpro, the innovation studio at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), and through creative consultancy in brand design, strategy, and innovation for various organizations and human-centered projects. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with leading companies such as BMW, Google, Deloitte, and Lextant.

As a creative strategist and design thinker, I specialize in Design Thinking, Customer Experience (CX), and Business Innovation, as well as in developing brand strategies, content, and corporate vision. Guided by empathy, authenticity, and a commitment to meaningful work, I’ve refined my skills across creative industries, including film, television commercials, and creative team management. I strive to blend creativity, brand design, and business strategy, generating innovative ideas that drive impact.

As a catalyst for innovation, I’m dedicated to fostering collaboration and mentoring others, creating dynamic, future-oriented environments. My dream is to uplift Latin American communities and projects through strategic workshops, research, and creative leadership.

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?

Relationship Building is a must. Despite considering myself ‘low-key’ introverted, I try to get out of the comfort zone and build meaningful connections along the way. One of the biggest gaps I’ve found in the creative industry is the ability to network. In fact, it was one of the most challenging aspects for me personally. The dysfunctional thinking that networking is simply about stalking people and selling yourself can be incredibly frustrating. It’s much easier and more relaxing to view networking as a process of asking for directions and building meaningful relationships.

An underrated skill I learned from my experience with working at Savannah College of Art & Design is the ability to ask the right questions and problem identification. We need to be able to identify a problem before we start ideation and conceptualization. By asking the right questions, we can always identify the root of the problem and the driving cause behind every creative brief. A good practice is to ask the client, partner, or friend “why” at least three times so we can grasp an idea of the ideal ask. Once that is clear, the path for storytelling becomes easier for every creative project – you have a starting point, and that’s the initial stone that needs to be set in order to build forward. The quality of your creative project is determined by the questions you ask in advance.

Finally, another skill I have learned is human-centered leadership, which pushes aside a transactional approach to leadership and adopts a transformative one. A true leader should be someone who, through empathy, understands that the main focus is the people you are working with, while revenue and project quality will be a result. Care about the people and how they want to feel by working with you – in the end, we are delivering an experience with every creative project, and that experience is driven by a human-centered approach.

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?

I am actively seeking to build meaningful connections with creative peers who are invested in human-centered design and creative strategy. I believe there is a realm of geniuses eager to collaborate on projects that adopt a human-centered approach by providing real-life solutions to real-world problems.

The beauty of human-centered design is that, to achieve innovative practices, we need to intersect different cultures, creative backgrounds, and multigenerational perspectives. I cannot wait to connect with more designers, researchers, artists, psychologists, philosophers, musicians, artisans, filmmakers, and writers to create compelling stories that share a common cause: making the world a better place.

If you are interested in starting the conversation, feel free to direct message me through social media (LinkedIn, Instagram), or my personal website emiliojosearellano.com

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.emiliojosearellano.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emlioarellano/profilecard/?igsh=cDd2YzZoeGNkcXV1
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emiliojarellano/

Image Credits

Layla Daoud
Jason Conforti
AlekzMac Photography