Danyel Maxin Santos
Danyel Maxin Santos (Dany) is a multimedia artist based in the Philippines. Driven by her many creative curiosities, she has worked on a variety of projects combining design, illustration, motion, and 3D to tell stories. Through her work, she hopes to connect with people, giving them an inspiring and heartfelt visual and narrative experience. In her free time, she makes slice-of-life comics reflecting on life and growing up with the hopes of making sense of it all.
Hi Dany! Tell us about yourself - how did you get to where you are today?
I think I started like a lot of kids who loved watching animation and reading comics. I remember spending a lot of time coming up with all sorts of stories, drawing in my notebooks, and playing video games. And I think all of that became the foundation of my current creative pursuits.
“It's okay if you don't have it all figured out at first and it's okay if you don't have the best idea just yet. Work with your boss, work with your clients, work with your team, work with your friends, work with your community.”— Danyel Maxin Santos
When did you first become interested in art and design?
Growing up, no one in my family pursued a creative career so I didn't really think it was possible for me. It was only when I had the opportunity to study multimedia arts in college that it all felt real. That the things that interested me as a kid could actually become a career. I liked looking at art and design, but I didn't really understand it as "art" and "design", only as something that I felt connected to. It was only when I started studying that it made a little bit more sense to me.
How would you describe your design style and how has it changed over time?
I'm not sure yet if there's a distinctive style to my work but I've always gravitated towards stylized, cartoon-y things. Sometimes I do suffer from an identity crisis, because my personal style leans more stylized, but for my day job I have to lean a bit more towards a sharper look. I feel like it's still evolving as I discover more so I honestly don't know yet. I'd like to think there's some bit of growth there in terms of technique but there's still so much to learn!
What's your creative process like? How do you typically take an idea from concept to delivery?
I typically start it off by overthinking and doubting myself, haha!
Kidding aside, it starts with idea-dumping, where I just write or sketch out everything that comes to mind, and then, arranging those ideas into something a little bit more concrete. I try to get feedback early on, so I can get an idea of what's working or not, narrowing it all down to a solution as quickly as possible. From here on, it's refining the work until we reach our goal.
What inspired you to branch out into multimedia design, including animation and 3D? What is your favorite medium to work in and why?
I honestly just went with what I was curious about at the moment. I guess it could also be because I'm indecisive and wanted to do a lot of things, so I tried to learn and do as much as I can. I'm quite blessed to have been shown kindness by a lot of people, who have given me a chance to work on projects despite my inexperience. And it was through those projects that opened doors of opportunities for me that allowed me to pursue more of what I felt happy with.
I'd say these days, illustration and 3D are my favorites as that's where I'm able to feel a sense of play the most.
How were you introduced to Canva and what's your favorite part of working with the Canva team?
I knew of Canva when I first started working as a graphic designer. Aside from the platform, I remember they ran a blog that discussed various design principles and concepts. I would read those blog entries all the time even now whenever I needed a refresher. Fast-forward to around 2021, a friend of mine who was then working with Canva told me about an illustration opportunity. To be honest, I wasn't very confident that I'd get in, but I applied anyway and thankfully, I got in!
I think that's the very foundation of why I like working with the team at Canva. Because of the openness and collaborative spirit, I was able to develop my style and my creative self over time with the help of the leads and my fellow illustrators. Every project became a space to grow and discover new things.
What's been one of your favorite projects to work on so far? What would be a dream project?
There was this motion comic series we did back in 2020. Through that project, I was able to combine all the skills I have learned so far in my creative journey, from storytelling and illustration, to motion and 3D. I was just so happy to have worked on a project where I got to do all the things that I love!
My dream project would be to make an animated music video for the artists that I like, or maybe an animated short film. I don't know when such an opportunity will happen, but hopefully someday!
Do you have any favorite tools or resources? Where do you find creative inspiration?
Procreate has been a game-changer for me. Most of my illustration and comics work were created there. After Effects has always been my go-to motion tool, and if you're into plugins, my most used are Overlord and Multiplane. For 3D, it's Cinema 4D.
In terms of creative inspiration, lately I've been following Instagram accounts of design, illustration, and animation collectives. I mostly look over there simply because I'm sadly chronically online anyway so I might as well add some inspiration to my social media brainrot. Books are also a great resource! My company has lent me a bunch of references along with my own set of books I've gathered over time.
Having friends who are also in the creative field is a source of inspiration as well. To have that space where I could discuss my ideas and get feedback played a huge part in my growth.
What's one of the biggest career lessons you've learned so far?
Start, even if you think you're not ready yet. You'll never really know where your small acts of bravery will lead you. Take a deep breath and make that leap.
What advice would you give to new designers and illustrators starting out in their careers?
Don't carry it all on your own. Creative work is collaborative. It's okay if you don't have it all figured out at first and it's okay if you don't have the best idea just yet. Work with your boss, work with your clients, work with your team, work with your friends, work with your community. Be open to feedback and try to get it as early as you can in the process; it'll help you get closer to the solution.
Also, most importantly, take care of yourself. Sleep. Eat on time. Drink water and take your vitamins. Go on walks. Spend time with your family and friends. Live your life.
It's good to pursue your work with commitment and passion, but you can't give from a body that's exhausted.
What are you working on now and what's up next for you?
Right now, I'm working on a new set of projects with Canva. It's an exciting development and I'm glad to have been tapped to help. It's something new so I hope you'll look forward to it as I am.
On a personal note, I'm currently working on a graphic novel. Hopefully I get to finish it soon and share it with you all once it's published next year (maybe? Or else my publisher will be mad, haha!)