I just turned 35 this year, and with every passing year, I feel an increasing fire to experience life, beyond the noise of expectations. We rarely get to fully explore when we’re young—people are too busy telling us how to live: Which school to attend, what job to take. It’s only when we hit that sweet spot between youth and independence that we start to discover who we are—without society's buzz.

Truth is, in the corporate-verse, we all agree taking time off is necessary to recharge, but hustle culture keeps us from truly engaging. In this post, I want to break through that surface and show why it’s more than beneficial to step outside—it’s essential to becoming a better designer or artist. Let’s dive in.

Skateboarding elevates your creative and design sense

The world outside has a bandwidth beyond any TV screen, Pinterest board, or AI-generated art. When you rely solely on digital references, you’re working off copies of copies. The true spark comes from engaging with real experiences.

I make it a point to step away from concept art, to search for real-world references, because that’s where stories are born. Imagine trying to design a character without ever talking to people—it’s impossible. Great character design needs real experiences to breathe life into it.

Surfing Expands your visual library

Road trips are my go-to for refreshing my visual library. Armed with my camera and sketchbook, I capture real moments and draw landscapes from life. It’s much more valuable than referencing filtered photos online, where colors and details are distorted. You want authenticity, not a version of reality that’s been overly edited.

There’s nothing like drawing a mountain from your eyeballs, instead of someone’s photography you’ve found online, with countless filters on top of it. With ease of access to softwares like Lightroom and Photoshop, it’s easier and easier to color filter your photos for a added storytelling. The bad is that an artist will see it and be so disconnected from the real world, that they will think the hue of that lake across the world, really has that teal to it, when in reality, it doesn’t.

Understand, don’t just copy—live the process

Design is like skating a ramp—it’s all about rhythm, timing, and momentum. You don’t fully understand it just by watching. Getting on a skateboard and trying it teaches you the real process. The same goes for design: connecting with your subject makes your work richer. When you engage with the world, your research becomes more meaningful than just searching Google Images or asking AI to generate ideas.

Let’s suppose you’re working for the new EA’s Tony Hawk Pro Skater game, it’s one thing to look up Pinterest images of skate, and there’s another entirely worlds apart if you go and buy a skateboard, and try it yourself, you get to connect with what you’re depicting, you’re interacting with your project, you become the research.

Joining beginner skate events, getting to know people there, you’ll understand their motivations for being there, what makes them tick, what makes them like the activity, what makes them connect. You’ll have a deep dive of the subject matter in no time. Dare I say, this is faster research than meandering around google images, or god forbid, tell an AI to generate an image for you of someone skating.

Let your life be the reference

The best designs and stories come from real-life experiences. Whether it’s Bukowski drawing from gritty life or you taking inspiration from a surf trip, the point is: reality is wilder than fiction. Embrace it.

Charles Bukowski was known for his gritty, raw writing style and often drew inspiration from his own experiences, which included spending much time in bars and engaging with the world around him. His works, such as "Post Office" and "Ham on Rye," often feature characters and scenarios drawn from his own life.
Despite facing initial criticism for his writing, Bukowski gained a significant following and critical acclaim later in his career. He passed away in 1994, leaving behind a legacy of influential literature, but some of his projects remained unfinished at the time of his death.

Balance Creativity with Play

It’s the carrot and the donkey process. If you have just donkey and no carrot, he’ll have no motivation to carry you at all. You’re the donkey, the carrot is the reward.

Hustle culture may frown on taking breaks, but burnout is the real enemy. If you don’t reward yourself after hitting your goals, you’re setting yourself up for mistakes. I’ve been there—working late into the night only to forget something as basic as cast shadows on my environment design. You’re more creative when you allow yourself time to recharge. Celebrate your wins.

Even if you don’t care about rewarding yourself... (which you should) How do you claim you’re not going to overwork, burnout and make mistakes?

Taking a break on a trip to a surf camp, for example, can shift your perspective, not only on your work but also on life. My time in Sri Lanka did just that—showing me a different way of living and interacting with people, which ultimately affected how I approached my work back home.

Here’s what I suggest:

#1. Work very hard at what you do.

#2. Once you achieve your objectives, reward yourself.

Simple right? Well, it’s simple for a reason, and I haven’t experienced burnout since I’ve started doing it, unlike a lot of other colleagues I know, who’d not only walk around the office uninspired, but also bitter at their colleagues, routine, meetings and work itself.

I managed to achieve all of my freelance financial goals for the year 2024, despite the challenging circumstances. The year was tough, with ongoing post-COVID layoffs, strikes in Hollywood, and uncertainty in the game development industry. Inflation was also soaring due to consecutive world wars. It wasn't an easy time, but I persisted and not only reached my break-even point but also exceeded it to make a profit. Downplaying this accomplishment would be unfair to myself. It was significant, and I believe it's important to recognize and celebrate successes like this. My message here is that it's crucial to acknowledge and celebrate your own achievements, as neglecting to do so can lead to burnout.

But really, how should we start?

Woo-hoo, that was a great TED Talk, I feel mildly inspired!

I have compiled a comprehensive list of useful links, resources, best deals, services, and hotels that I utilized during my travels in Sri Lanka. In an upcoming blog post, I will share helpful bullet points for designers who want to work as digital nomads in Sri Lanka. I am currently gathering the best deals from my partner brands to include in the post. Additionally, I will describe my experiences in Sri Lanka and how I managed to strike a perfect work-life balance. Watch the blog space for that one!

One last thing for you to think about: Have you ever imagined a character designer who doesn’t talk to people and go outside their comfort zone?

While you wait:

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Here are the best deals on Surf Camps from this post’ official sponsor.

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Highlights

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Check out the special promotions offered by both me and my partners through the following link.

These camps are designed for digital nomads and come with everything you need, including accommodation, food, and fast internet. Prices range from $200 to $600 per week and are all-inclusive.

This is a special thank you for my followers.