We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Myles Mendoza. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Myles below.
Myles, thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?
Let me start by saying my self-discipline is by no means perfect and I have a lot to work on, but in regards to work ethic I think it comes from not wanting to be complacent. I’m always looking towards that next step, that next project, that next badge or illustration I’m going to create. What I’ve reflected on more recently is that it sometimes hinders my ability to enjoy certain moments as they’re happening, whether that be life in general or the artistic process.
I’ve heard/read throughout life that fear of failure is an unhealthy trait, because we all fail at certain points in our lifetime, but fear of complacency is something I’ve used as a motivator to always keep the momentum going forward.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Hello there! (*cue Obi-Wan Kenobi voice)
My name is Myles, I’m a designer/illustrator/jedi/creative professional from San Diego, California. I’ve been designing professionally for over 17 years, with the last 12 being focused primarily in the entertainment and consumer product industry. I started at my first agency in 2011, became an Art Director at a new studio in 2015, then made the decision to go full time freelance with my personal business, Mendoza Creative in 2021.
I’ve been extremely fortunate to work with some really amazing brands in my career, creating everything from toy logos, packaging, retail experiences, environmental design, print and product, style guides, the list goes on. Some of the more notable brands I’ve had the pleasure of working with include: Warner Bros., The RSVLTS, Paramount, Nickelodeon, Hasbro, Marvel and Star Wars to name a few. Many of these brands have shaped my passion/lifestlye since I was a kid, and to now work alongside them as an adult is such a rad experience and put the nostalgia on overload.
In addition to my personal business, for the past two years I’ve been working remotely with an incredible team and marketing agency in Wyoming, Warehouse 21. Working on trade show booths, whiskey labels and illustrations, brand identity and social media, I really feel so fortunate to work on a variety of different projects both for them and for myself, keeping things fresh and juggling multiple styles within design.
Most recently I had the opportunity to speak at my first Adobe event called, Create Now. I was able to share my story and creative path, along with visuals of current and past projects and connect with the creative community in San Diego.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Staying humble. 2. Willingness to ask for help and also feedback.
3. Creating friendships and networking with people I looked up to.
My advice to people early in their journey is to, at the very least, stick to these 3 points I mentioned. Keeping in touch and networking is so damn important, and to not burn bridges (as best as you can). You never know when a project might pop up and someone needs some extra help, you can be ready for it. You can’t grow if you’re not willing to ask for OR accept feedback. Being humble goes incredibly far with people, and they can sense when you are bullshitting with them, so be yourself, unapologetically.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
This is kind of a grey area question, but if I had to lean one way I would say go all in on your strengths. I consider versatility to be my personal strength. Working with so many different brands and styles has helped to shape my own in that way, to the point where I feel confident in almost any genre. However, illustration and typography are two areas where I feel the most comfortable and also passionate. They’re also the two areas where I have poured the most time in. I have numerous projects in my portfolio that I am proud to have worked on, but what I showcase on my site are the ones I feel most passionate about and are also the kind of clientele I want to attract.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mylesmendoza.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mendozacreative
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mylesmendoza
- Other: Dribble: https://dribbble.com/mylesmendoza
Image Credits
Headshot photo: Keith Forney Adobe Event photo: Victor Marmolejo
