Meet Luis Valencia | Graphic Designer & Letterer Enthusiastic

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

Hi Luis, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I think is a fine line that sometimes it can get blurry. I believe if you think is worthy and you really believe it from the bottom of the hard do it then. If is still makes you excited every time you think about it then continue, cause if you are just doing it for doing it then I think you have your answer there and you should move on.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My journey has not been easy I feel, I didn’t start doing drawing custom letters until after college and even then wasn’t sure but when I got selected to be feature in my first international recognition I feel that I need it to continue this path. I remember early years I would staying home in the weekends at night practicing and learning as much as possible instead of going out to parties. I still sometimes do but I think always learning will always take you far in life. I really believe that if you want something then follow it until you get there. I love always taking online workshops and/or classes. Keep yourself with the mentally of you don’t know nothing.

One of the most valuable lessons that I learned was to do passion/personal projects, those are the projects that will definitely will take you the further in your creative career, cause let’s think about it, if you want to get hire for certain kind of work that you like but you don’t do it then how will you get those dream job? By doing those jobs that you want to get hired for and posting them. Then you will attract the clients you want to do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If is there first time in the city I would take them to Dumbo and Brooklyn Bridge first to then cross to the city and walk around Financial District and go up from there. I would take them out to eat some classic pizza at Ray’s Pizza at East Village, then we would eat some amazing ramen at Ippudo a couple streets away from there. Central Park is a must like the High Line that goes from Chelsea to Hudson Yards. I do enjoy taking friends to Top of the Rock cause you can see Central Park and midtown really nicely. At Brooklyn I will go to Domino park and Bedford ave, so many good places to eat there as to explore. Finally I would take him to any Museum, maybe the MoMa or The Met.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There is so many people that have help me to pave my path. I think I would like to thanks Marco López, for helping to refine my lettering skill at the beginning. To my actual boss, Brian Gartside for believing in me and help me to be a better designer. To Type@Cooper for refining my type skills, and finally to Ying Chang as well as to Ken Barber that he is a living legend in the community. Honestly I think there is still way to many people that I don’t think I would ever would finish to write there names down.

Website: www.luisterdesign.com

Instagram: @luisterdesign

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/luis-valencia-luisterdesign