Alex Asfour (IdeaStorm Creative Studio) is a freelance designer and illustrator. His most popular work World Travel Poster Collection, a series of illustrated travel posters, have been featured on various websites and blogs around the world. IdeaStorm Creative Studio has an amazing list of clients: The Washington Post, Air BnB, Uber, Eventbrite, Disney, TD Bank, TimeOut NY, Fonts.com, Department of Transportation, Red Light Management, Staples, Fulcrum Publishing, Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine and more.
Alex, where do you get your inspiration?
I get my inspiration from my travels, museums, films, photography, and the work of other artists I admire.
Which is the relationship and influence between your cultural background (country, studies, etc.) and your artworks?
Great question, I grew up on an American-controlled island in the Caribbean called St. Thomas and my parents both immigrated there by themselves so I grew up pretty removed from any personal/family culture. My work however, is heavily inspired by my environment, which is why there is a big focus on landscapes, sail boats, palm trees, and beach scenes.
Which is the relationship and influence between your cultural background (country, studies, etc.) and your artworks?
Great question, I grew up on an American-controlled island in the Caribbean called St. Thomas and my parents both immigrated there by themselves so I grew up pretty removed from any personal/family culture. My work however, is heavily inspired by my environment, which is why there is a big focus on landscapes, sail boats, palm trees, and beach scenes.
What are you much focused in?
Right now I am focused on illustration and that is keeping me pretty busy for the time being.
Have you encountered any difficulties when you first started your art/freelance career?
Absolutely, I spent my first 2 years of freelancing getting very little to no work. Luckily, I started a personal project, the World Travel Poster Collection, and this sustained me during that time and has been the most important factor in my career so far. All my work to this day still comes from the project.
Over these years, what is the most important thing you have learnt from your profession?
I’ve learned that as long as you have passion, work hard, and practice your craft you can improve and get jobs with good clients. It just takes time and discipline, there is no quick way to success.
Do you think that a creative job is just creativity or it’s discipline too?
While creativity is definitely a factor, it is absolutely a discipline. Inspiration may not always strike when you need it and it is then that you use your skills and training to execute a job the best you can.
Are you currently work on new projects?
Well, I just started a new job working with USPS (the United States Postal Service) which is a dream client for me so that is exciting but I also just released my first book, Departures. It’s a collection of 5 years of my work and I spent months working on the book itself so I’m very relieved and thrilled to finally release it!
“It just takes time and discipline,
there is no quick way to success“
Artist Website > ideastormstudios.com
Instagram > @alex247
Dribble > dribbble.com/ideastorm
Behance > behance.net/ideastormstudios
Facebook > @ideastormstudios
Pinterest > pinterest.com/ideastormmedia
