Today, we’d like to introduce you to Mikel Tan . Mikel was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Maria Melkonian-Maissian.
Mikel , can you walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My journey began in high School. While many of my friends excelled academically, I was always one that scribbled in my notebook. I wasn’t someone who cared as much about the normal subjects. I knew I was creative to some degree but I didn’t know how I could apply that to my future. A lot of people in my circle of friends ended up in big name schools and I was in community college figuring it out. It was then I took a graphic design class and met an instructor named Mrs Gardner. She truly opened my eyes and from that moment on and for the first time, I had a clear path for my future.
I took all my necessary classes and transferred to Woodbury university. During my time there, I made the Dean’s List and interned at a media/publication company. In 2008 I earned my BFA in Graphic Design. After graduating I was catapulted into Web Design and worked in the entertainment industry designing websites and Myspace pages. Throughout the years, I expanded my range which included hair salons and bakeries all the way to professional athletes and Grammy award winning singers. In 2010, during the growth of mobile-centric design, I worked on 2 iPhone apps for the bar/restaurant industry. This spawned a new level of interest and would later coincide with my current job.
App design prompted me to know & understand code so I learned HTML and CSS as a Front-end Developer. In addition, I spent 10+ years designing websites for the legal and home service industry. I became a Director of Design where I led a team of designers. After a few amazing years with that team, I pivoted into Product Design where I learned UI/UX and motion design to create website builders and a CRM platform. Most recently, I joined forces with énove digital agency as a Creative Director.
Let’s talk about your work and career – what else should we know?
As my career has evolved throughout the years, I’ve been able to sharpen my skills and apply them to other facets of web design. Essentially I started out as a graphic designer, then transferred to web design, and after a stint as a director of design I pivoted into product design where I focused primarily on UI/UX. I find so much value and interest in a good user interface and user experience in terms of mobile & web apps. In fact, I apply much of that learning into my everyday experiences. Aside from that I find a true passion in my graphic design roots which is why I’ve collaborated as the creative director for énove Digital Agency. I believe what sets me apart from others beyond the technical skills of understanding type treatment, color, balance, composition, etc. is that I truly enjoy building genuine relationships with people. Regularly connecting with like-minded people is what continues to fuel my love for design because it’s important to stay curious and hungry to learn more, especially from others. Injecting soft skills into my daily routine is what ultimately has helped me become happy and successful.
So, as we mentioned to our audience earlier, you were introduced to us by Maria Melkonian-Maissian and we really admire them and what they’ve built. For folks who might not be as familiar, can you tell them a bit about your experience with Maria.
My relationship with Maria has been nothing short of special. She’s a role model on how a boss should run her company and her teams. She leads with compassion, understanding, and a level of poise when handling different clients. She’s just so easy to work with because coordinating calls, scheduling changes or updates are a breeze.
I met Maria at my wedding but we never shared a conversation until 9 years later. She and her husband were guests because my wife, Rina, and her had worked at a previous job together. When my wife found out that she was starting her own digital agency, I was the first person who came to mind. After that initial call, we bonded instantly and the rest is history. I look forward to working with Maria for many years to come.
Website: https://enoveagency.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoveagency/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/enoveagency/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enoveagency
