Michael Lester treats his work like a riddle needing to be solved. An illustrator, designer, and animator he runs his own creative studio focused on animation, illustration and design production on a larger scale.
Working for an array of clients, his creations allow for different approaches. “I don’t really have a niche, and that’s something I’ve rooted for from the beginning,” he explained in an interview with Lecture in Progress. “I’d much rather be a person to come to for an answer to a problem than a go-to for a particular style.”
But though his work is varied, his attitude towards it is consistent, translating complex ideas into bite-size designs, that are both approachable and pleasing to the eye. “Design trends come and go but communication is always at the core of what I do,” he says. “If you try to latch on to a current style too much, you’ll get left behind. The best thing you can do is focus on the ideas in your work.”
Having studied fine art in college and illustration at university, he launched a freelance career and spent four years building a broad international client base consisting of both agency work and direct relationships with companies. “The great thing about working for yourself is you can adapt and respond to those patterns and make that time up in the evening,” he says.
Take a look at some of his work in the gallery below.
