#124. Finding authenticity in visual storytelling with Mohamed Danawi

Mohamed Danawi is many things—an artist, Founder and Director of IlloZoo, professor at SCAD—but if you were to ask one of his current students, they’d say he’s just “Mo.” SCAD alumni and GhostRanch Creative Director Allie Wilson joins the ‘cast with Mikey and Mohamed for an amazing conversation around art, visual storytelling, design trends and how to be authentic in your art.  Mohamed’s experience teaching over the years has given him a unique perspective with how the arts department has evolved, the growth of illustration and the challenges  “teaching” creative mediums. Visual communication is powerful—it can both take away from and enhance a story. So we especially loved how he typically requires students to “present” their projects in class. This is an episode for: art & design students, storytellers of all kinds and SCAD fans. What's in the Spice Cabinet?? Find more Mo! LinkedIn IlloZoo, Mo’s illustration agency Any favorite books Mo recommends for visual thinkers? His latest book is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson “I don’t read about visual communication to be able to tell you—I read about other things and I think that’s what you need.” Mo’s walkout song??  Flight of Icarus - Iron Maiden Parting words? What’s important is maybe just expand, you guys have the opportunity to expand your platform. Most people do the visual storytelling, all that for commercial reasons. But I feel like you have also a very good chance of doing what you do using art that is more humanistic in nature, because like you were saying, people might be tired of the graphic stuff, or at least start a new department or a new division where you're focusing on humanistic things—society, culture, making things better. Because people now—especially the new generation—care more about making life better than selling.  So maybe shifting focus and/or maybe adding to your focus into more storytelling for humanity, for society, for making life better, basically. That's my words of wisdom, I guess.