People in Progress with Muntasir

Muntasir Mohamed, a Kuala Lumpur native, infuses a unique aesthetic that breathes life into the realms of music and fashion. Renowned as a seasoned graphic designer and illustrator, Muntasir specializes in bringing a distinctive beauty to his designs. His extensive portfolio resonates with impactful collaborations alongside a myriad of artists and brands. From concert merchandise to posters, album covers, and graphic elements, Muntasir's creative touch leaves an indelible mark. His design prowess has graced the works of luminaries such as Drake, 21 Savage, Pusha T, Nas, Kali Uchis, Olivia Rodrigo, Black Pink, Roddy Ricch, Billionaire Boys Club Ice Cream and many more.

1. How would you introduce yourself?
I’m Muntasir Mohamed and I am a freelance graphic designer & illustrator Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. My work is centred around image making in the fields of music fashion.


2.What inspired you to start pursuing a career in design?
I’ve always this strong interest in art & design from a young age - I would read lots of comics and manga as a child and was always so fascinated by the artistry and craftsmanship of the comic artists/mangaka. That inspired me to draw and try to recreate some of the panels from my favourite comics/manga. I think as grew up, the love I had for art and design got stronger and it made me want to hone my skills and continue to improve.

3.Where do you usually draw your inspiration from?
I draw my inspiration from many places but I always find myself going back to the 70s-80s & 90’s - art and design was raw then and that was something that intrigued me. Posters, films, record covers & graphic design manuals are an example of some of the different mediums that have always caught my eye. I have an extensive collection of magazines & books that document these type of art forms from those eras and I am constantly using them as references points in my work.


4.What prompted you to start collaborating with different musicians and fashion personalities?
I wouldn’t say that I prompted anything per se - most of my work has been found by the people I work with and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have been able to work with some of the biggest names in fashion and music. I think along with that, I’ve also been really blessed to have worked alongside some individuals and brands who share the same values and artistic vision as I do.

5. Many people see you as such a dream achiever. Are you content with your current status in life or are there future goals to reach?
It’s been an incredible journey so far in my career and I am incredibly grateful for that. In life, particularly my goals and aspirations, I’ve always taken a ‘one-day-at-a-time’ attitude. I like to keep my head down, work hard and along the way do my best to become the best person I can be in both my personal life and career. Some may look at it as a sort of carefree approach to life but in my case it has been incredibly fulfilling and helped a lot in my development.


6.Do you agree that hard work pays off, or it is the opportunity one seizes?
It’s definitely a mixture of both. You can’t expect the best to come to you if you don’t put in the work. Throughout my career I’ve had loads of people asking me how I achieved certain things like working with certain musicians/brands and I always tell them there is no formula to all that - I believe that if you work hard, hone your talents and craft, keep your head down and always maintain humility the work and the opportunities will always gravitate towards you. I am a firm believer that if the work you put out is good, the opportunities will come.

7. What are the other fields, apart from designs that you are interested to explore?
I think my whole life has revolved around art & design so it was hard for me to see myself in other fields but recently over the last year or two, I’ve developed a huge interest in coffee. Maybe one day, when designs doesn’t work out for me anymore, I might pivot to coffee?


8. Tell us your current work in progress in personal life?
I’ve been fortunate and blessed enough to have been able to reach this stage of my life and even then, life is a constant work in progress. We can always strive to better ourselves in our craft, our relationships and most importantly our lives and I am a firm believer in that.

Credit : @muntasirmohamed