Axel Pa is a graphic designer and forthcoming licensed Playbook artist from Mexico City who helps brands convey the right messages through graphic design.
We sat down with Axel to learn more about his daily routine — how he works, what his life is like, and what makes him tick.
Watch the video for the whole interview, or read on for the summary.
You can follow Axel’s journey on his Instagram page.
A day in the life of a graphic designer
Axel emphasizes the importance of scheduling his time as a graphic designer, having tried to work without one and finding it was a struggle to finish everything.
On a typical day, Axel wakes up around 10 or 11 am and checks in on his design community, reviewing their work as well as his own and connecting with his network on social media.
Then, it’s time for breakfast, cleaning the house, and getting started on the day’s tasks for his clients. He and his girlfriend, whom he runs the business with, take a break in the evening to eat supper — his favorite food is rice, vegetables, or “whatever I find in the house that day.”
Axel’s not picky, but he tries to eat healthy as he has a weakness for potato chips!
After supper, Axel and his girlfriend do a daily workout before continuing to work long into the evening — often until three or four in the morning.
The importance of taking regular breaks
Axel learned the hard way that building breaks into his work was essential to prevent burnout and ensure his clients receive the highest possible quality of work.
At one point, he was working up to 14 hours a day and even taking his laptop to family gatherings on weekends.
That was when he realized he needed to set boundaries with his clients, so he set up breaks for himself throughout the week and year.
On Fridays, he works reduced hours so he can run errands and catch up on admin, and he takes regular vacations to refresh himself mentally and physically and keep the inspiration flowing.
Axel’s advice on handling (and giving) feedback
A well-structured feedback system is essential for any design project as it can reduce the number of iterations needed and help the designer create something that aligns with the client’s needs more quickly.
For Axel, a solid feedback process starts by setting foundational expectations. Here’s his advice:
“As a client, you must be really sure of what you want. Not everything is going to be perfect. But if you have a clear idea of what you want, it’s going to be better for the designer.
Axel emphasizes the importance of scheduling his time as a graphic designer, having tried to work without one and finding it was a struggle to finish everything.
On a typical day, Axel wakes up around 10 or 11 am and checks in on his design community, reviewing their work as well as his own and connecting with his network on social media.
Then, it’s time for breakfast, cleaning the house, and getting started on the day’s tasks for his clients. He and his girlfriend, whom he runs the business with, take a break in the evening to eat supper — his favorite food is rice, vegetables, or “whatever I find in the house that day.”
Axel’s not picky, but he tries to eat healthy as he has a weakness for potato chips!
After supper, Axel and his girlfriend do a daily workout before continuing to work long into the evening — often until three or four in the morning.
The importance of taking regular breaks
Axel learned the hard way that building breaks into his work was essential to prevent burnout and ensure his clients receive the highest possible quality of work.
At one point, he was working up to 14 hours a day and even taking his laptop to family gatherings on weekends.
That was when he realized he needed to set boundaries with his clients, so he set up breaks for himself throughout the week and year.
On Fridays, he works reduced hours so he can run errands and catch up on admin, and he takes regular vacations to refresh himself mentally and physically and keep the inspiration flowing.
Axel’s advice on handling (and giving) feedback
A well-structured feedback system is essential for any design project as it can reduce the number of iterations needed and help the designer create something that aligns with the client’s needs more quickly.
For Axel, a solid feedback process starts by setting foundational expectations. Here’s his advice:
“As a client, you must be really sure of what you want. Not everything is going to be perfect. But if you have a clear idea of what you want, it’s going to be better for the designer.
Axel has a system in place that works for him. Here are his three tips:
- Provide an initial wireframe to your client: As a designer, you should provide an initial layout of the design for your client to react to before you create the full first draft. This way, you can address any foundational changes in vision, direction, etc., before you build on it.
- Be clear about what the revision process looks like: You also want to clarify to your clients how many revisions you will make and what kind of feedback you expect at each stage. The client should always be on the same page regarding the progress of the project and how a particular review cycle will bring it closer to completion.
- Set firm boundaries and learn to say no: Sometimes, you’ll know early on that things probably won’t work out with a client engagement, and that’s okay. It’s not even necessarily a bad client, just an ill-fitting one. In these cases, prioritize your mental peace and say no to projects that you’re unsure of.
What are Axel’s influences?
Axel’s influences as a designer are diverse and reflect a blend of modern digital art trends, historical design elements, and ongoing engagement with the design community:
1. NFT Art: Axel is inspired by the innovative and digital-first approach of artists in the NFT (Non-Fungible Token) space, highlighting the shift towards digital ownership and unique digital creations.
2. Vintage art: He has a particular interest in vintage character designs, drawing inspiration from styles and elements that hark back to earlier periods in art history, emphasizing nostalgia and classic aesthetics.
3. Regular inspiration from Behance: Axel uses Behance as a constant source of inspiration, staying updated with the latest design trends and projects from a global community of designers.
What inspires Axel to work every day?
Like many designers, Axel is driven by his passion for making the world a better place through design and his aspirations to grow as a successful designer.
“I think, as a designer, the thing that wakes me up and makes me do things is thinking I want a better life for me and the people I love—to be in a better place, to be a well-known designer. So that, for me, helps me put all that I have, all my passion, into every design that I’m doing.”
Recognizing that designers regularly come up against mental blocks and challenges, Axel shares his hack for breaking through procrastination.
He imagines a “rocket ship about to launch” and counts down from five. When he reaches zero, he must take the first step without thinking. This trains him to treat the countdown as sacred and inviolable.
Design your life like Axel Pa
Our conversation with Axel Pa offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of a dedicated graphic designer.
From his structured approach to work and the importance of breaks to his innovative feedback process and diverse sources of inspiration, Axel’s journey is aspirational.
If you’re an up-and-coming graphic designer looking for ways to grow your career, check out this guide to B2B graphic design.