For most of us, the creative path involves hills and valleys, with small detours of imposter syndrome dispersed throughout. Melina K, the Singapore-based graphic designer behind Epi.to.me, has the best practical advice for those moments: “Progress beats perfection every time.”
Read her exclusive interview below to learn more about her creative process, her secret weapon for conquering self-doubt, and how resources like Stills inspire her to keep creating.
Stills: What is your design process like, and how has it changed as you’ve evolved in your career?
Melina K: My approach to design varies depending on whether I’m working on personal passion projects or client commissions. Neither method is particularly elaborate. I rarely even sketch out ideas (at least not initially)! Typically, I jot down keywords, phrases, or visual concepts related to the main idea. When I’m feeling inspired, I often piece these elements together fairly quickly to create something that aligns with my vision. In the past, when design was just a hobby, I could afford to skip the brainstorming phase and dive straight into an empty Photoshop artboard. However, as I’ve evolved as a designer, I’ve learned to be more intentional in my creative process. I want to put out stuff that really matters to me.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Nature speaks volumes! It’s constantly changing, yet the beauty never fades. All we gotta do is open our eyes and take it in. When I really pay attention, inspiration can hit me from all sides: from the tiny details of a blooming flower to the hustle and bustle of wildlife. And those colors! But what gets me going is that feeling of peace and wonder you get from being out in nature. I’m lucky to have this awesome botanical garden just a short walk from my place. I feel refreshed and ready to get creative every time I go there. Bookstores and record stores are another great source of inspiration for me. I’m constantly snapping pictures left and right of covers for later inspiration.
How do you get your head back in the game when feeling burnt out?
Stepping away from the laptop works wonders for me about 99% of the time. There’s just something about breaking free from the familiar environment, the same position, the same chair, and staring at the same screen that requires a reset to get my creative juices flowing again. I’m fortunate enough to have the flexibility to take a day off or slow down to recharge whenever I feel a bit stressed. I make use of that opportunity to engage in activities other than work. However, I’m confident it’s a temporary phase, so I don’t beat myself up for taking a break. Usually, within a day or two, I’m refreshed and ready to dive back in.
What is your ‘secret weapon’ when creating? How did you develop this skill?
Paying no mind to rules and you-can’t-do-this and you-shouldn’t-do-thats as a graphic designer. There are tons of opinions flying around, but at the end of the day, I just want to create stuff that excites me! When I first started, I was way more uptight about it. I used to worry so much about what people would think of my work if they pointed out something I did that rubbed them the wrong way. But now, I just shrug off the opinions that don’t matter and do what feels right to my designer soul.
What are some hurdles you had to overcome that impacted you?
I’ve battled with a ton of self-doubt and imposter syndrome, and it’s still something I grapple with, though not as intensely as before. When I graduated from school, I didn’t think I had what it takes to pursue anything in design. But one day, I just said, “I’m gonna give this another shot.” Taking on my first design job took a lot of guts, and I had to believe in myself to make it happen. There were setbacks, but I’ve learned that progress beats perfection every time. Now, I’m all about moving forward and getting better.
What do you like about Stills? How is it a good resource for designers?
Stills is awesome, especially when it comes to finding a specific image. That’s hands down my favorite feature about the platform: the color picker. It’s rare to stumble upon a bad image—I’ve lost count of the hours I’ve spent scrolling through the most aesthetically pleasing pictures and curating my Board. It’’s a game-changer for teams of designers, especially when it comes to pitching and creating mood boards, making the whole pre-production process that much more efficient.
