Daily Inspiration: Meet Miguel Navarro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Miguel Navarro.

Hi Miguel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Remember OBEY, Diamond, and the SWAG era? Back then, if you didn’t have the right gear, you weren’t just uncool, you were invisible. Or worse, a target. I wanted in so badly, but my parents couldn’t afford it. So instead of buying in, I started getting creative.

In 8th grade (2015), I was “designing” under the name Prism. I had no formal art experience other than an elective art class I had taken over the past two years. At first, I just wanted to make clothes that I thought was cool enough to wear. But the more I leaned into it, the more I realized it wasn’t just about clothes: it was about belonging. About finding people who saw the world the way I did.

Even though the grown-ups around me never pushed me to pursue a career in something creative, I somehow found my way there. I graduated from Cal State Northridge in the Fall of 2022 with my Bachelors in Art – Communication Design. While still in school, I worked really hard to construct a portfolio that was like no other. That portfolio landed me my current career at Crypto.com Arena as a Graphic Designer. That’s right, I design for one of the biggest names in the entertainment business. Not only that, but working at the arena validated my internal creative battles which led me officially start my own clothing brand called Outake Collective. Going from no formal creative experience & no industry connections, to where I am now has been a surreal feeling; but it wasn’t luck. It was sleepless nights working on case studies to perfect even the smallest detail.

When I first started Outake Collective, I thought it would just be about clothes. But it has grown into so much more. As a team, we are now developing our own original show series, we have built a group dedicated to helping upcoming performers gain exposure and guidance, and of course we still make clothes marketed by creative social media campaigns.

Outake Collective began with my own desire to fit in. Over time, I realized it was never about chasing trends. It was about building a support system for creatives who never had one. If you have ever tried explaining your creative dreams to someone and watched their eyes glaze over, you know exactly what I mean.

Outake is for us, for the outsiders who chose to build our own lane instead of waiting for permission.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been an easy journey. The money, time, and stress I’ve had to pour into reaching this point as a creative have been a real sacrifice.

What people rarely talk about are the individuals you meet along the way, the ones who share the same dreams but eventually fall off. Those moments cut deep. Sometimes, in order to keep growing, you have to leave people where they’re most comfortable, even if it makes you seem cold or unkind. The truth is, it’s a natural part of the process.

Everyone in this world is a bag of tools. The choice is simple: either keep sharpening and adding to your arsenal, or risk being used by someone else.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I eat, sleep, and dream design. Everything in my life revolves around it. If you ever find yourself at L.A. LIVE and notice the screens or graphics spread across the campus, you can tell your friends you know who created them. I’m one of four designers at the arena, and together we make sure the campus visuals meet industry standards.

One of my university professors used to call me “The MacGyver of Design.” For those unfamiliar, MacGyver was a fictional TV character from the 80s and 90s who always found a solution to every problem. That, in many ways, captures what graphic design is: solving problems creatively. I embraced that idea early on and developed a knack for finding solutions to any design or technical challenge that came my way.

When it comes to design, I can handle just about anything from vector-based posters to Photoshop compositions, and even some 3D work. While 3D isn’t graphic design, it’s a valuable skill that adds another layer to what I can offer an employer and myself.

How do you define success?
I’ve realized that my definition of success changes very often. It depends on where you are in life and what goals you’re chasing. Once you achieve those goals, you’ve reached success, until it’s time to set new ones. In high school success to me meant graduating college. In college success to me meant landing a great career. And now… well…

Right now, my vision of success is financial freedom. I grew up in underserved and underrepresented communities, so I know what it feels like to scrape together loose change just to buy a bag of chips or something I really wanted. For me, the moment I achieve financial liberty will mark a major milestone. From there, I’ll be ready to move on to the next chapter of success, and then the next, and so on.

Contact Info:

• Website: outakecollective.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/migueladesigns

Image Credits
Kendis Alex Bood David Nieto Orellana