Michael Lester’s Designs Keep Evolving

When it comes to his creative process, illustrator, designer, and animator Michael Lester likes to keep an open mind. This open-mindedness is what puts him ahead of the game when it comes to his designs and ideas.

“Design trends come and go but communication is always at the core of what I do,” he explained in an interview with Lecture in Progress. “If you try to latch on to a current style too much, you’ll get left behind. The best thing you can do is focus on the ideas in your work.”

His open-mindedness also means that he can work for a variety of clients. Since graduating, he works full time as a freelance illustrator, animator, and designer. As of 2018, he set up Beginners, a creative studio focusing on animation, illustration, and design production on a larger scale.

“I don’t really have a niche, and that’s something I’ve rooted for from the beginning,” he stressed. “I’d much rather be a person to come to for an answer to a problem than a go-to for a particular style.” According to Lester, the greatest thing about working for yourself is that you can adapt and respond to the changing workflow.

Follow his progress on Instagram.