Mari Hosho stands as a beacon in the realms of graphic and interactive design, carving an unparalleled path in the industry. Transitioning from an Information Science major to a renowned designer, her journey is a testament to unwavering determination and a fervent passion for creativity. In this article, we explore Mari’s exceptional career trajectory, her inspirations, contributions to the design world, and her perspective on the evolving landscape of graphic and interactive design.
A Unique Career Odyssey
Mari’s career trajectory is nothing short of extraordinary. Armed with an Information Science background, she initially delved into the realms of technology and coding. However, her latent interest in the creative field persisted. Over seven years, she served as a project manager in one of Japan’s largest advertising agencies. The allure of design eventually beckoned, leading her to take a transformative leap.
In 2021, Mari embarked on a life-altering journey from Tokyo to the creative nucleus of New York City. Enrolling in Parsons School of Design marked the inception of her designer career, setting the stage for a future marked by innovation and creativity.
Igniting Creativity Through Diversity
Mari’s decision to embrace graphic and interactive design stemmed from her diverse life experiences. A globetrotter who had lived in five different countries, she found inspiration in the varied design aesthetics of everyday life. Her travels through Europe, the Middle East, and Africa ignited her passion for collecting artifacts that encapsulated the essence of each city. This curiosity about how design mirrors history, culture, and aesthetics fueled her desire to craft her own designs.
Transformative Moments and Design Evolution
One pivotal moment in Mari’s journey occurred during her time at Parsons School of Design, where she explored the synergy between technology and design. Under the guidance of a teacher renowned for integrating coding and design, Mari discovered the enchanting possibilities at the intersection of technology and creativity. This transformative experience not only showcased the mesmerizing outcomes of blending coding and graphic design but also enabled Mari to harmonize her diverse skill set in a unique manner.
Adapting to Shifting Tides
In the dynamic world of design, staying abreast of the latest trends and technologies is imperative. Mari is steadfast in this pursuit, engaging in in-person design events like TypeThursday, exploring newsletters, social media platforms, and online videos, including Adobe Max. What sets her apart is her analytical scrutiny of everyday designs, constantly questioning how she can enhance or reimagine them.
Defining Projects: Pinnacles of Mari’s Portfolio
One of Mari’s standout projects involved a rebranding initiative for a mental healthcare company. The transformation from a technology-oriented, serious tone to a more organic, humane, and soft-looking identity showcased her creative brilliance. The success of this project reverberates in the branding world to this day.
Navigating Challenges and Embracing Individuality
The design journey is fraught with challenges. For Mari, translating concepts into visuals proved to be a hurdle. Her solution was a journey of continuous iteration. Additionally, she grappled with comparing herself to other designers. Overcoming this challenge, she focused on discovering her unique strengths and inspiring qualities.
Unveiling the Creative Process
Mari’s creative process commences with immersing herself in the subject matter, absorbing every facet of the client or topic. This profound understanding serves as the bedrock upon which she constructs her designs. Her process involves verbalizing her impressions, gradually shaping the foundation for her designs.
Vital Tools and Techniques: Mari’s Craft Cornerstones
Mari employs a versatile array of tools to bring her designs to life. Conventional software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and After Effects form her creative arsenal. She also embraces coding, utilizing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for interactive design. Her design journey commences with rough sketches on paper, which she refines using Illustrator, eventually transforming them into websites or utilizing Figma, depending on the project’s needs.
Sailing Through Collaborations: Mari’s Expertise in Teamwork
With her background as a project manager in an advertising agency, Mari is well-versed in collaboration. She emphasizes the need to convey the importance of design to non-designers. Her work with non-profit organizations underscores the significance of design in effective communication. Mari and her team ardently advocate for the transformative power of design in conveying messages to diverse audiences.
Adapting to the Changing Landscape of Graphic/Interactive Design
Mari recognizes the evolving role of a Graphic/Interactive Designer. Today’s designers are expected to possess a wide array of skills, often described as “T-shaped.” While this broadening of skills is promising, Mari strives to strike a balance between branding design and emerging technologies, ensuring her work retains its uniqueness amid the era of automation and generative design.
Guidance for Emerging Designers: Wisdom from Mari Hosho
Mari’s advice to aspiring designers is profound yet simple. She encourages them to identify their unique strengths and resist succumbing to the pressures of competition. Acknowledging one’s individuality and continual evolution are pivotal to success in the design industry.
Shaping the Future Design Landscape
In Mari’s vision of the future, data-driven branding and digital generative design take center stage. These emerging trends have the potential to make branding more interactive and flexible while maintaining a consistent identity. As AI advances, designers must focus on infusing a human touch into their work to preserve its uniqueness.
Design Inspirations and Influential Styles
Mari’s design sensibilities are a harmonious fusion of clean, geometric, and digital designs, influenced by designers like Philippe Apeloig and Ikko Tanaka. Simultaneously, she deeply appreciates illustrations with a human touch, drawing inspiration from artists like Chagall and Christoph Niermann. This blend of styles is exemplified in her admiration for Giorgia Lupi’s “Dear Data.”
The Essence of Exceptional Design
For Mari, exceptional design evokes the “Aha!” moment. It interprets problems differently and communicates complex ideas in a simple, universally understandable manner.
Satisfying Aspects of Design
The most gratifying aspects of Mari’s career as a designer are the processes of creation and the ability to directly impact individuals through her work. She revels in the journey of brainstorming, sketching, and crafting something original. Witnessing the positive impact of her designs on individuals fuels her motivation and passion.
Balancing Imagination and Pragmatism
Mari understands the significance of balancing creativity and practicality in professional work. Even when practicality takes precedence, she endeavors to infuse a touch of creativity by proposing multiple design patterns. By offering diverse options, she explores the bounds of creativity a project can accommodate.
Dedicated Projects and Personal Endeavors
Mari’s passion projects epitomize her depth of interests and creativity. One notable project involves her rebranding of National Geographic, where she incorporated daylight data into the brand’s logo, reflecting diverse climates and natural environments worldwide. Additionally, she digitized her collection of two-dimensional designs from cities she has visited, creating a unique representation of her travels.
Future Visions and Long-Term Aspirations
In the future, Mari envisions a career that amalgamates her strategy background as a project manager with her creative eye as a designer. Her ambition is to become a global influencer, inspiring people from all walks of life and corners of the world.
Overcoming Creative Blocks
When faced with creative blocks, Mari immerses herself in non-design activities such as watching movies, reading books, or traveling. These experiences allow her mind to unconsciously unravel design challenges, often leading to breakthrough moments.
The Significance of a Strong Portfolio
Mari underscores the importance of a portfolio as a reflection of a designer’s identity. It serves as a visual resume, encapsulating the designer’s skills, unique qualities, and creative personality. Her advice to budding designers is to showcase their distinctiveness and, above all, relish the process of self-expression.
Conclusion: Shaping the Future of Design
Mari Hosho’s extraordinary journey from Information Science to the dynamic world of graphic and interactive design exemplifies the boundless possibilities awaiting those with an unyielding passion for creativity. Her dedication to continuous learning, fearless embrace of challenges, and infusion of a unique touch into her designs position her as a visionary in the industry. As the design landscape evolves, Mari stands poised at the forefront, ready to mold the future of design with her innovative spirit and unwavering commitment.
Connecting with Mari Hosho
- Mobile: +1 -718-954-1675
- E-mail address: [email protected]
- LinkedIn: mari-hosho
- Instagram: @mari_hosho
Website: https://mari-hosho.com/
