ON BEING CREATIVE
I’ve always wanted to be creative. When I was young, I didn’t excel in art and failed miserably in crafts. I wished I knew how to paint or draw beautifully. I dabbled in music and theater, realizing maybe performance was my way of being creative. But still I secretly yearned to create something visually, something concrete and tangible, something cool. As a teenager growing up in the 90s, my interest shifted to fashion and magazines. I would tear pages from my mom’s glossies and choose images that inspired me and stick them to the wall. Little did I know that I was creating what they now call a mood board. In college, I was fortunate enough to know and even hang out with a creative circle that included photographers, writers, DJs, stylists, designers, and models— some of whom have gone to have illustrious careers. Being exposed to this kind of environment gave me a unique access and glimpse of the creative world, inevitably setting the stage for what my career would eventually be. I entered the publishing industry 17 years ago, and everyday has been creative for me. From the actual concept to execution, from starting off with pages to creating an entire magazine, I can proudly say that I’ve been a part of this meaningful process. I have learned many lessons throughout my time here, but the biggest realization for me is that you can’t be successful at being creative by working alone. It takes a group of individuals, all of which play a vital role in contributing to an output that is meant be beautiful and hopefully inspiring and compelling. Everyday is all about collaborations, partnerships and a coming together of people, things, ideas,
and stories that somehow mold seamlessly; that is what you see and read in every issue of the magazine.
This month’s cover is probably the best example of what I am talking about. This year, the MEGA team set their eyes on a new destination and flew to Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona to shoot digital creative Kim Jones. What makes this issue quite special is that from the very concept, photography, fashion, art and creative direction, our subject was with us every step of the way. Ever the collaborative individual, it is refreshing to work with someone who has a clear vision of herself. In the age of influence and the noise of social media, Kim stands out with her curated content that resonates to a thinking and substantial audience. While you might think that it has been an easy path to finding her calling, you’ll be surprised to know that hers was quite the journey and it started by her leaving a career in banking to finally pursue her aspiration. Today, she shares her journey of co-creation with The Fore Series, a creative and e-commerce platform where she collaborates with local designers to come up with seasonal offerings for the modern woman.
I hope this month not only inspires you to be creative, but also to dream and see it through in reality.