Mauro Medina Susarrey is a Brand Designer & Creative Director with over 15 years of experience working at the intersection of creativity and strategy. His career has been guided by curiosity and a willingness to explore the unknown—qualities that have taken him across industries, disciplines, and countries.

Early in his journey, Mauro co-founded a design studio (2009–2014) where he collaborated with clients in entertainment, tech, data analysis, medical, sports, food supplements, consumer goods, festivals, and non-profits. During this time, he also worked as a production designer on commercials and music videos, including projects for The Format and Pontiac. These experiences exposed him to the many layers of design and storytelling, inspiring him to see brands not as one-dimensional but as living, breathing ecosystems.

Over the years, Mauro has worked across photography, film, motion graphics, sound design, web development, and brand strategy. This multidisciplinary background gives him a 360° perspective on how brands come to life across different mediums and contexts. His portfolio spans global collaborations with clients such as ConsenSys, CoinMarketCap, Formosa Group, and Facebook, and his projects have taken him to cities like Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, London, Singapore, Paris, and Mexico.

Today, Mauro runs a design studio alongside his wife, an architect and interior designer. Together, they focus on bridging the Gap of the tangible and intangible sides of branding—crafting strategies, environments, and experiences that bring brands to life in a holistic way.

Find Mauro:

Website: https://kult.mx

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/maurodesigner

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bymauro.mx/

Instagram Kult: https://www.instagram.com/studiokultmx/

Affiliate Links:

Webflow: https://try.webflow.com/1p91anb2byd3

Bloom: https://bloom.cello.so/hXX9A7c0zQc

Chapters:

00:00 The Journey Begins. From Mexico to Graphic Design

09:52 Facing Challenges: The Impact of ESL Classes

20:05 The Shift to Strategy: Learning and Unlearning

30:08 Deepening Understanding: The Role of Client Relationships

33:14 The Birth of a Brand

34:05 Navigating Client Relationships

37:21 From Jack of All Trades to Specialization

43:31 Transitioning to Ensenada

46:14 Cultural Shifts in Design

51:49 Building Relationships in Business

01:05:40 Emotional Connections in Branding

01:09:28 Reading Visual Cues for Emotional Connection

01:10:44 The Importance of Authentic Client Relationships

01:12:00 Cultural Shifts in Design and Branding

01:14:02 Challenges in the Tech Industry

01:15:55 The Role of Empathy in Tech Branding

01:16:50 Navigating Software Limitations and Client Needs

01:23:00 The Frustration with Automated Customer Service

01:24:42 The Ethical Dilemma of AI in Design

01:29:39 Generational Perspectives on Technology and Relationships

01:39:30 The Cynical Nature of Brands and Consumer Relationships

01:40:28 Revisiting Brand Ethics and Responsibility

01:43:50 The Ethics of Design in Modern Society

01:47:29 Resilience and Sticking to Your Principles

01:50:33 Navigating Client Relationships and Strategy

01:57:23 The Importance of Context in Strategy

02:08:45 The Power of Design and Community Influence

Takeaways:

- Recognizing effective strategies can be challenging.

- Shifting perspectives is crucial for achieving better results.

- Initial skepticism is common when encountering new strategies.

- Mindset shifts require effort and awareness.

- It's important to acknowledge when something is better.

- The conversation highlights the difficulty of change.

- Effective strategies often come with a learning curve.

- Understanding the point of contention is key to progress.

- Embracing new ideas can lead to significant improvements.

- The journey of recognizing better strategies is ongoing.