Mustaali Raj (IDEA Grad 2014) is an independent art director and graphic designer whose focus lies at the intersection of interdisciplinary concept development and visual communication.

Photo (shown above): Marrakesh, Morocco 2019 by Minahil Bukhari.

As an engineer turned designer, his creative process is a cohesive blend between left and right brain thinking. He is a circle, living in a square, drawing triangles.

We recently caught up with Mustaali for an in-depth two-part interview. In Part 1 we trace his journey to IDEA School of Design, a 4-year degree program at Capilano University for a new generation of creative professionals!

What are some early life experiences from your birthplace in India?

I have fond memories of spending time with my Grandparents in Udaipur, the lush landscapes, awe-inspiring architecture, flocks of parrots that would always fly overhead at dawn, the sweet flavours of mangoes, the sights and sounds of the busy streets. We moved to the Middle East when I was about a year old and used to spend almost every summer back in India. Most of that visual vocabulary stayed with me through the years, but I wouldn’t quite realize until much much later. 

What was coastal city life in Saudi Arabia like and having a father in the oil and gas industry?

I spent the first 10 years of my childhood in Al-Fanateer, Arabia. It was a coastal city nestled in the Persian Gulf. Date palms, open starry skies, the fresh breeze of the sea, the flowing curves of the Arabic script — all are very nostalgic for me. I remember the first thing I would do after coming home from school was pop open my colouring set, and ask my mom to draw me some animals, which I would then colour in all sorts of abstracted tones. I vividly remember intentionally using the green crayon to colour in a horse one time because brown was too expected. Since my father worked in the oil and gas sector, it was an environment that was familiar and played a part in shaping my college years. 

Growing up, along with classic video games, I was a huge fan of animation and actually wanted to be an animator. Animated films like The Jungle Book and The Lion King were instrumental in inspiring me to explore the visual arts. It all used to be on VHS tapes back in the day. 

Your family moved to Calgary in 1998 and you got a degree in Chemical Engineering but “hated it”. Please tell us a bit more.

The initial years of adjusting to junior high school (in Calgary) was tough. I experienced my fair share of racism and bullying during those years. My first ever snowfall was a miraculous experience, sand getting replaced by snow, the heat getting swapped for the cold. However, the novelty of Calgary winters wore out quickly. 

I discovered Adobe Photoshop and CorelDraw in a pilot computer arts class that my high school offered and instantly fell in love with it. I continued experimenting with the programs on the side creating my own projects or helping out with community initiatives. Even though my arts instructor emphasized that I go to art/design school, I never really thought of it as a feasible option. Growing up in a family of “professionals” in engineering and medicine, no one had really pursued the creative arts and made a living out of it. It was thought of more of a hobby, something to do in your free time. And as such, I followed suit in what I thought was an easy 4 year-degree with a high earning potential after graduation. Little did I know that it would be one of the most challenging aspects of my life. 

I always had a strong interest (and still do) in the sciences and since my grades were fairly decent, I didn’t think too much of it. In first year University, we even had a creative engineering class where we designed things from found objects, even looking at nature to draw and create new inventions/prototypes. Second year onwards it became very dry and by the book. After doing a 16-month internship, I knew for sure that this wasn’t something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Unfortunately, I really didn’t have a strong support structure at the time. It was only after I had graduated, and worked in the engineering industry for a few years that I gained the confidence needed to drop everything, and start fresh.

In the beginning, working as a new grad in the Oil and Gas industry had a nice appeal , especially the lifestyle that came with it. But the work itself was very unfulfilling. I still had this strong itch inside me that something was missing, and knew that if I didn’t pursue that creative itch, regardless of whether the grass was actually greener on the other side, I would regret it.

You began taking evening classes at a local art school, got interested in design and applied to IDEA School of Design. Please share a bit more.

Throughout university I was still involved in creative pursuits through personal projects, designing community publications, making posters for friends and clubs at school. Furthermore, I discovered a part-time Studio Arts Certificate program at the Alberta College of Art & Design (ACAD). The design 101 class really opened up my eyes to the fact that visual design was much more than just pretty aesthetic compositions, there was a science, philosophy and methodology behind it. It encouraged me to look at conceptual thinking and apply problem-solving to graphic design, which propelled my confidence into realizing this was actually a feasible direction for me. 

Early mentors such as Rebecca Hirsekorn (ACAD instructor), Zahra-Al-Harazi (family friend and Creative Director), Janine Vangool (founder of Uppercase Magazine) were influential in helping me navigate this transition. Animation and character design was what drove me to creativity, but I found that I didn’t have the patience to keep drawing and redrawing the same thing again and again. Graphic design was a nice bridge between the left and right side of my brain. I decided then that I was going to apply to design schools across Canada and make the shift into the creative industry. It was good to know that I could fall back on Engineering in case things didn’t work out. 

Why did you choose IDEA School of Design?

Amongst the various schools I researched, I chose IDEA because it was a 3 year program at the time. I had already done a degree, and was looking to minimize the amount of time back in school. The portfolios of the IDEA alumni were also quite impressive. Reaching out to past alumni such as Darcy Clelland really helped me get a sense of the program as well. 

Back in 2009, I applied to a Sketchbook Contest (hosted by Rethink) where the prize was getting a 1-year scholarship to a design school in Vancouver. Even though I didn’t win, Ian Grais (Founder) and Jeff Harrison (Design Creative Director at the time) wrote back to me, giving me portfolio advice and recommending me to look into IDEA. Funny how it all ended up full circle, as my first job after graduating from IDEA was at Rethink.

What are your memories and highlights from IDEA School of Design?

One of the main highlights was the exchange program to Japan. It took me out of my comfort zone and introduced me to a culture and visual language that shaped my approach to both work and life. The overall learning experience at IDEA was refreshing and unique, it didn’t feel like a cookie-cutter system from what I had experienced in other universities. It also helped that my peers came from diverse backgrounds and age groups bringing their own varied perspectives with them. 

The foundational courses, although difficult at first, really helped me with colour, composition and conceptual thinking. The late nights, inside jokes and friendships formed were invaluable as well. It’s a pleasure to still see so many familiar faces out in the industry today. 

Please tell us about the numerous awards and recognition you received at IDEA and after grad

I’ve been lucky to be recognized by numerous awards and organizations, both as a student and a professional in the industry. There is a short list in my CV online, but I find myself not dwelling too much on awards anymore. It definitely helped me earlier in my career, landing interviews at well-known agencies and getting my foot in the door. I find more and more that award show structures involve paying hefty fees, usually affordable by bigger agencies, just to get a pat on the back. I very much prefer curated features on design blogs, publications or press. Getting featured on Under Consideration’s Brand New was definitely one of the key highlights of my career so far. 

Coming up in Part 2 of our interview

In Part 2 of our interview with Mustaali, find out about his life after graduating from IDEA School of Design including buying a one-way ticket to Thailand with his wife and joining the GDC BC Board as Communications Director.

For more on Mustaali, check out mustaaliraj.com or follow him on Instagram @mraj, Linkedin, and Twitter @MustaaliRaj.