Designing life: MEGA size

Designing life: MEGA size

French Designer and Illustrator MEGA is a name which need not to be introduced to all those who have been following and practicing and wanting to make a career in Animation. A successful art-director who now does illustrations for various well known publications and brands, Mega believes in working on his creations making it different and unique, from the moment his day starts to the moment his day ends. He has exhibited his work in quite a lot of reputed galleries and this year made a visit to India for a workshop, where One World News had the opportunity to interact with him.

What does MEGA mean?

I like the idea of changing the style of a name. When you have such a name it gives an altogether different feeling about your personality. It adds a sense of power, ego and attitude but I believe in showing such emotions when you are marketing yourself otherwise being humble is what I appreciate in people. Pretending that you are amazing doesn’t make sense at all. And the other reason was also that this name is quite easy to remember for anyone across the globe.

Have you been to India before? What would you say about the Indian Animation Scenario?

My first visit to India was 12 years ago and now when I look at things here, it seems extremely different. However, I believe India has a lot to offer and is pretty unique because everywhere I go I see completely different things as compared to where I have been. But as far as animation is considered, I am not qualified enough to comment on that nor I have much knowledge about it. I spend most of my time in making my creations better. I know it is important to have influences when you start, but in later stages of life if you start focussing on your work it takes you to another level. However, because I haven’t seen much of others work; I must have missed a lot of developments and a lot of learning.

How has been your journey so far?

My journey was difficult to make but as we say life isn’t fair, so I manage to walk the path of life. One might come across different stages in life but it completely depends on how you react on each stage. Success would come one day if you keep working on what you have started and that’s what I have done in my journey. I have worked hard for years and years and that is what has got me here and that is what has enabled me to know India and speak to people here about my art.

I started with Traditional Graffiti and my work had great influence from typography and graphic designing but I believe making changes to art-work to give it your touch does make a difference. In Animation, there are many rules and regulations but one should try to break these rules as only by breaking them you will be noticed. People may like it or may not like it but creating a niche is important.

Was it difficult?

Yes it was. I was nursing and came from a lower middle class family. I had no opportunity to go to high school so I had to work. I also worked as a garbage collector and that would have become the destiny of my life. However, I intended to change it unlike others who believed that the rich would die rich and a poor would die poor.

Living the life of a lower-middle class person did frustrate me and I wanted to change it. I had a dream and I focused on it and would suggest even the readers to believe in their dreams because everything that happens in their life is in their hands.

You went to an art-school, did it make any difference?

Well, it varies from person to person. To me, the school taught me everything that I never wanted to do or become. I went to this art school quite motivated and wanted to learn and work unlike others in the school who believed in chilling.

I didn’t find any opportunities like I expected but then I was self-motivated so began working towards my goal. I published my own art book and then became an art-director for a magazine.Learning can be done from anywhere, a person can help you in learning skills, a book can help you learn words etc. But school made me learn that it is important to do everything on your own.

What would you suggest to the readers?

Follow your passion and make your dreams come true. Prove everybody, who doubts you, wrong. It is your life and you should be the decision maker. It doesn’t matter if you cannot earn good money, you will earn knowledge which would stay with you forever, even after you die. You would grow stronger with the struggles you come across and would become a better person.