Humble Pied
About a year ago, I went to see a very successful and talented designer speak at a graphic design conference. Mig Reyes was his name, and he impressed me so much I am writing a blog about it.

My first thought on hearing his keynote before even a word was said was how lucky he must be to have enough talent to be featured at a design conference. It would probably never be possible for me, but I wanted to be where he was one day. As the keynote began to commence, I was greatly surprised at the direction it went. I had seen other designers speak before mostly about what current, brilliant designs they were coming up with next or future design trends. Mig Reyes, knowing his young college audience, decided to go in the opposite direction and talk about his beginnings. He said he knew what we were all thinking. We would never have enough talent to reach his level, but we were all wrong. Then, he proceed to tell us about his own origins and that he was no better than us at that age. Everybody has a beginning. Where you make it to in life is determined by your determination and hard, very hard work. He was giving us encouragement, goals, and design hope. Luck has nothing to do with it.

He first showed us his own design work that he thought was so amazingly wonderful in his early college years, and it was completely horrible. Everybody laughed at the bad design projects knowing that it was produced by the very same sensational, modern designer in front of us. He also showed us some other wonderfully awful designs made by designers who are now famous such as Jessica Hische and Tad Carpenter. What he told us was, “You have to make lots of bad work before you start to realize what your good work is.”

Then, he proceeded to show us Humble Pied. It was a website that was inspired by students like us. It is about successful designers giving their advice to the young designers of the future. They talk about their own mistakes and successes.

This particular keynote address has really stuck with me over the past year. Talent isn’t something that’s given to you. It’s something that is earned with time and hard work.

Below is some of Mig’s current and well-designed work.

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