Community Highlights: Meet Mooyagi of YAGI

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mooyagi

Hi Mooyagi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
To my family and friends, I’m Moo, but to everyone else, I’m known as Mooyagi. I grew up in Oakland, California, playing basketball and immersing myself in art, design, and fashion. I’ve always pursued my path, but I draw my inspiration from those who pushed the boundaries of creativity. I never let popular trends define my style; instead, I aimed to inspire others to express themselves freely. Whether it was taking pictures on the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) with my brother Anthony Dragons and sister Brittsense or expressing myself through painting, I’ve always been driven by a desire to create and innovate.

When I moved to Los Angeles to attend Cal State University Northridge, my passion for design was unwavering. As I embraced every opportunity, I realized that the journey is the ultimate dream. Throughout college, I remained persistent and open to growth, knowing each step forward brought me closer to my aspirations. As I prepared to graduate with a degree in Art and Design, I reflected on my invaluable experiences and the inspiring individuals I connected with on Fairfax. It’s been a fulfilling journey, and I appreciate every moment that has led me here.

After completing college, I knew it was time to grow as a designer. I accepted a Creative Director/Graphic Designer role with Adidas and moved to Portland, Oregon. There, I designed collections for NBA superstars Damian Lillard and Derrick Rose and created hype drops such as Black History Month and Chinese New Year. I even developed an exclusive cleat collection for Super Bowl MVP Von Miller called “Unearthed”. While I’m grateful for everything I learned during my three years on Greeley, the energy of LA was constantly calling me.

After deciding to return to LA, I jumped into the freelance world. I worked with athletes like Demar DeRozan and Melo and Gelo Ball with Big Baller Brand, along with other notable companies and celebrities. Eventually, I felt ready to transition back into the corporate space. Embracing new challenges, I accepted an Art Director position at Michael B. Jordan’s Creative Agency, Obsidianworks. I hit the ground running, utilizing everything I had learned from my previous experiences to work on campaigns for industry leaders such as Gucci, Target, YouTube, Jordan Brand, and many others. After almost three years at the agency, I felt it was time to return to my first love…fashion.

Before I began designing for another company, I knew I wanted the chance to design at a high level for myself, so I created my brand, YAGI. It stands for “You Acquire Greatness Internally.” Through trial and error, I reached a point where others noticed my work. YAGI caught the attention of longtime friend and collaborator Damian Lillard. His support of my brand saw my line featured on ESPN and practically sold out within two weeks of its release. I pursued new opportunities while managing the brand and facing life’s challenges. I drew on my past experiences, leading me to my current position as Senior Graphic Designer for Mike Amiri’s global brand, AMIRI.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I love design because there is always a problem to be solved and there is always a story to be told…and with that, I love the objective to convey a message through graphics. When people interact with your work you want to evoke a certain level of emotion.

The path is not always going to be smooth, there will always be bumps in the road…the beauty is learning from those moments of adversity, embracing the challenges and coming out better because of them. When you are passionate and confident in everything you do, your energy can sometimes pose a threat to others or unfortunately trigger certain insecurities they hold within themselves. With that comes friction and although you all share a common goal in wanting the best for whatever project you are working on, at times it can be difficult for your creative process.

The key is to never take things personally as well as holding a certain level of “disconnect” when it comes to the work. Create for the moment, let it go and move on.

This is something I learned early on and have been mindful of in every step I have taken. It is not always the person sitting across the table from you, but it is the person in the mirror you must constantly check to assure growth.

Nothing will ever be perfect, I have experienced situations where things didn’t go as planned or as good as I would have liked, but the common denominator in them all was my persistence to continue to move forward.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
When I created YAGI, my aim was to establish a brand that resonates with people from all walks of life. As humans, we all experience doubt, but we also hold the power to achieve greatness within ourselves. No matter the outside noise, no matter the social norms of the world, everything we want and desire already exists inside of us.

Outside of reaching fashion enthusiasts, YAGI was created to remind everyone that anything is achievable when you acquire greatness internally…YAGI.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am always open to building with like minded creatives. With all the social outlets today, I am not hard to find and can be reached via Instagram @Mooyagi where you can also find details of my email. You can also learn more about YAGI at www.mooyagi.com.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mooyagi.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mooyagi