Atilio Flores is a journalist, graphic designer, and editorial alchemist from El Salvador who firmly believes in taking chances with his work. “My advice for aspiring designers is simple: dare to try even if you are afraid,” he says. “There’s no learning without risk. You might not know much at first, but life teaches you along the way. Growth comes when you act, not when you wait to be ready.”

Flores’ Salvadoran roots gave him an early crash course in finding inspiration in his surroundings. “My country is the smallest in Central America, but it’s rich in cultural and visual heritage,” Flores says. “Growing up surrounded by its architecture, colors, traditions, and festivals taught me to observe details and value them as sources of inspiration.” Flores gained valuable insight by traveling to other countries in the region, especially in terms of aesthetic sensitivity as it pertains to infographics. “I strive to convey complex ideas clearly and beautifully, always incorporating a sense of identity and culture into each project that I conceptualize,” Flores says.

As a child, Flores dreamed of growing up to be a number of different professions, including a police officer, doctor, teacher, priest, lawyer, actor, illustrator, and writer. He didn’t fully discover his talent for editorial design until his gap year. “During that time I explored communications, audiovisual production, and even wrote books, which ultimately led me towards editorial design.”

Flores is primarily self-taught, learning in the field and constantly evolving his style. “I often say, ‘Design chose me; I didn’t choose design,’” he says. His personal philosophy is to never stop learning, and he sees every project, person, or experience as having something to teach him. “I believe professional and personal growth go hand-in-hand, and design becomes more human when it’s fueled by curiosity and careful observation of the world,” Flores says.