We had the good fortune of connecting with Mariam Elasser and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mariam, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I think I pursued an artistic career because I desired control over the world around me. Growing up I was constantly intrigued by the billboards and ads and signs I would see in my day to day. I would look at them and either think of how they could be improved or admire them for how well they were made. An area of design that had a particular impact on my choice to pursue a creative career was the movie poster. I was obsessed with movie posters growing up and would love seeing them in theaters and online. When I started taking design classes in high school one of the first things I made that I was proud of was a mock movie poster for a book I was reading. As I get older and continue pursuing design, I always make sure to remember that design is my way of communicating with the world and changing things around me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The creative work that I am most proud of in my career is always the work that I am personally connected to. As a first generation Moroccan immigrant, a lot of my photography and filmmaking is focused on Morocco and is my attempt to feel connected to my homeland. I also just personally think from a creative perspective that Morocco is the most beautiful place on earth, so all of the art I create about it really stands out in my portfolio. Aside from my own life, I find that the design I am most excited by is design that pushes visual boundaries and works in tandem with liberation efforts. I believe that design is an inherently political act, and to use the power it gives us in the effort of supporting those in struggle is our duty as artists. As protests in support of Palestinian liberation efforts continue, the design language that forms around the movement speaks to a shared human experience and drive that is astounding to be a part of. Design is one of our most important tools as a community and I am always inspired to see the ways creatives use it to change the world.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite spots are all in Brooklyn! Oftentimes when people come visit a friend in NYC they only want to spend time in Manhattan but honestly, Brooklyn is where it’s at. A perfect day for me in Brooklyn would be going to the Brooklyn Museum in the morning. One of my favorite works of art of all time, The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago, is housed there and in general, the museum is home to a lot of wonderful collections. After the museum, exploring Prospect Park and grabbing a bite to eat, maybe walking up toward the Clinton Hill/Fort Greene area and checking out some vintage stores there. I also really love to spend time in Williamsburg, it’s my favorite place to go shopping and as an experiential designer it’s also the site of a lot of brand activations and giveaways that I love to check out and take note of.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wholeheartedly dedicate my shoutout to anyone and everyone who has shown me love at any point in my life. To my parents, for their undying loyalty and the sacrifices they made to give me a better life. To my friends, for listening to me talk on and on about the most inane topics, and for talking on and on in turn about their own passions. To my professors and mentors for guiding me through the challenges of design and for being patient with me when I inevitably mess up. To all the activists designing for change and liberation that remind me of the power of a creative mind. And finally. to every person who told me I’d fail and allowed the ever burning fire of spite to motivate me to keep going.

Website: https://mariamelasser.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariam-elasser/

Image Credits
All work is intellectual property of Mariam Elasser or is in collaboration with Invisible North and respective clients.

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