Why did you choose your creative path?
From high school doodles to choosing a career path, illustration has always been the obvious choice for me. There's no epic story behind it; I just kept practising over and over again until I reached a stable career.
How do you move through creative blocks when they show up?
I think it's important to know when to admit it's time to move away from the desk and let your brain cool down a bit. Eating something and completing some low-effort tasks usually helps a lot.
What does your creative process actually look like, from idea to outcome?
The hardest part is the rough sketch, putting an idea on a page. I always think that once the ugly draft is done, half of the work is already over. The rest of the process is way easier. Refining a sketch and figuring out a colour palette, then actually illustrating, is not difficult when working on a solid basis.
Overall, the hardest part of the work is coming up with an idea.
Where do you tend to find inspiration, and what do you ignore?
Social media are modern, obvious answers, but outside experiences are an amazing source of inspiration. I view going out with friends as an opportunity to gather more associations of ideas and feelings that will help me later in my work.
What are you reading, watching, or listening to right now?
Currently reading a book I found in a café about a Roman legionary searching for a treasure in Egypt. I'm also watching the latest season of Invincible, and I've always been very fond of post-punk and goth music. My favourite band is Diva Destruction!
What does a typical day look like for you in practice (not the ideal version)?
One of the perks of working at home is that I rarely have to worry about waking up at a fixed time. Outside of Ramadan, most days start with a hot chocolate cup on my desk and catching up with emails. I usually spend the rest of the day completing tasks and desperately trying to save some time for a side project. At the moment, I've been obsessed with finishing a 30-second animation I started 10 days ago.
What project are you most proud of, and what made it work?
This year, I've been particularly fond of a queer beer project with Queer Brewing, which contacted me regarding a queer history month packaging, needing illustrations of trans icons Alan Hart and Wendy Carlos. The deadline was pretty tight, but the project was super rewarding, and I absolutely adore how it turned out. The result is quirky, colourful, and just a bit camp, everything I love really.
Who or what has shaped your perspective most over time?
I've been involved in several universes that don't necessarily overlap much. From the Maghrebi muslim community to Goth fashion and music, and from Dungeons and Dragons to ballrooms, I sometimes feel like a multi-persona Barbie, just code-switching from one world to the other. This is incredibly culturally enriching and an amazing way to consider life questions from several perspectives.
What does originality mean to you in your work today?
One of the biggest challenges for emerging illustrators is to find the right balance between mainstream appeal and originality. It has always been a thin line to walk on. I can't always listen to every little spark of inspiration, since I still have to think of its practical application.
That being said, my most well-received projects have been the niche personal ones I needed to get out of my system.
If you could redesign or recreate any book cover, what would it be, and what would you change?
Where I live, classic literature titles often display very sober covers, usually classical painting slaped on a white background. I would love to modernise those, make those great stories feel less austere and more visually striking.
What advice would you give to someone trying to build a career in your field today?
I'll repeat what many designers have said before me, but it's crucial to put your work out there, not just on social media. Also, I'll argue that an online website portfolio is a must-have when going serious into the business.
A big thank you to Driss Chaoui for contributing to our series of creative conversations with industry experts.