Meet Michael Telewiak | Multimedia Graphic Designer

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

Hi Michael, 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 feel like this is a battle that’s always going to happen, especially in the early stages of your career. The high of succeeding and having your work praised and taken seriously is what drives you to keep going. But when you hit a dry spell and it feels like the world is against you, it can be really hard to stay motivated. At the end of the day, it really comes down to that motivation, t’s the thing that pushes you to keep going, even when things feel slow.

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.
For me, art has always been ingrained in me from a very young age. I found early on that using visuals to communicate ideas and helping others bring their ideas to life was something I really loved. That curiosity about creating things slowly turned into a career built around helping people visualize their stories and ideas through design and illustration.

What sets my work apart, I think, is the way I blend illustration into my design work. My illustration style leans toward editorial illustration, which works really well for things like spot illustrations on web pages, blogs, or icon systems. It allows me to think about the bigger picture and create visuals that not only stand on their own but also support the overall vision of the project or the person I’m creating for.

What I want people to know about me and my work is that I genuinely love the process of creating. Whether it’s a personal project, an illustration, or a design piece, I’m always trying to learn something new and push my work a little further. At the end of the day, it’s really about collaboration for me, working together to create the best possible outcome and helping bring a client’s story or vision to life.

The journey definitely hasn’t been easy. Like most creative careers, there are moments of excitement and momentum, but there are also dry spells where things feel slower or uncertain, especially with the rise of AI and how it’s beginning to change parts of the industry. One of the biggest challenges, though, has been my own battle with anxiety and depression. Learning how to navigate those struggles while still continuing to create has been an important part of my growth, both personally and professionally. For me, consistency and curiosity are what really keep me moving forward and continue to drive me to keep going.

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.
If one of my best friends was visiting, I’d probably split the week between North Jersey and New York City to give them the full experience.

We’d start things off locally with some good coffee spots and low key hangs to ease into the week. Places around North Jersey where you can walk around, talk, and get a feel for the area, like Jersey City, Montclair, and Hoboken. I’m big on coffee, so that would definitely be a daily staple. I’d take them to some of my favorite spots like Black Magic Bakehouse, Sleepwalker Coffee Co., and Thumbody, just to name a few.

Then we’d spend a few days in New York City. I’d take them into Manhattan to walk around SoHo, the Meatpacking District, and the East Village, check out galleries like The Metropolitan Museum of Art or Museum of Modern Art, and just explore. I’ve always felt like the best way to experience the city is by wandering and finding inspiration in everything around you. For drinks and atmosphere, places like Angel’s Share, Canto, and Dante always come to mind.

Outside of the city, I’d mix in some different experiences, maybe a hike at Bear Mountain State Park for a change of pace, or something more fun and nostalgic like Billy’s Midway Arcade.

For food and drinks, there are so many great spots I’d want them to try, like Hot Bagels, Razza, Faubourg, Junto Attic Bar, SRO, Antique Bar & Bakery, and Cellar 335.

Overall, I’d want the week to feel like a mix of everything. Good food, great coffee, creative inspiration, and just exploring.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are a lot of people in my life I could thank, but when I think about the people who really shaped my path and pushed me to keep going, I always come back to two of my college professors, Daniel Hertzberg and Chris Gash. Their guidance and belief in me made a huge difference, and without it I’m not sure I would be on the path I’m on today.

After college, Daniel was kind enough to invite me to intern for him and work as his assistant. That year working with him was incredibly valuable. I learned so much about what it really means to work as a designer and illustrator, and it helped set the foundation for how I approach my work today. Their mentorship gave me the confidence and direction I needed early in my career, and I’m really grateful for that.

Website: https://michaeltelewiak.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtele_art

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeltelewiak