Mike Conwell (They/Them)
Hi, I’m Mike, I am a designer and illustrator with over six years of experience creating work that intersects concept, personality, and visual storytelling. Throughout my career, I’ve worn many hats, from hands-on designer to leading creative teams as a Creative Director, and each role has shaped the way I approach design today: with intention, curiosity, and a deep respect for process.
My process begins with a question: what’s the voice of this project? Design doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and I believe that good work listens first. Before I sketch a single line or open any software, I dive into the roots of the idea, where it came from, what it’s trying to say, and who it wants to reach. Once I have a sense of its story, I let that voice guide my creative decisions. That voice might be bold and loud, or quiet and contemplative, but it always has something important to say. My job is to amplify it.
Over the years, I’ve led projects across a wide range of industries and formats, from developing full-scale branding systems for restaurants to designing 90 foot murals, band merchandise, and many web-sites. My time as a Creative Director taught me how to balance big-picture thinking with fine detail, and how to guide teams toward a shared vision while keeping the work grounded, honest, and effective.
Illustration plays a huge role in my creative toolkit. I often bring in custom hand-drawn elements to make the work feel more “human”. Combining design and illustration allows me to approach projects with flexibility and personality. I don’t just want things to look nice, I want them to feel intentional. That might mean developing custom illustrations that give a brand a human touch or designing layouts that feel as organic as the content they carry. Each project becomes a balancing act between aesthetics and message. I’m not interested in trend-chasing. I’m interested in clarity, craft, and communication. I believe great design tells a story, and sometimes, that story is better told with a little personality.
I’m also deeply collaborative by nature. While I value independent creativity, I believe the best work happens when ideas are shared, challenged, and refined as a team. I love bouncing thoughts off clients, art directors, fellow designers, or anyone who’s invested in making something better. I don’t see feedback as a hurdle; I see it as fuel. My ego doesn’t live in the work, my curiosity does.
When I’m not designing, you’ll probably find me drawing for fun, flipping through dusty books in secondhand shops, or overthinking the type on cereal boxes. I love weird visual ephemera and am constantly archiving scraps of inspiration: matchbooks, flyers, print ads from the ’70s, even comic books. All of that stuff finds its way into my creative DNA.
Ultimately, I want to create work that resonates, something that’s not only smart and functional, but full of life. Whether I’m leading a team or building something solo, my goal is always the same: to make meaningful, memorable designs that connect.