The Futur with Chris Do

332 - Discovering Creative Freedom - With Matthew Encina

Mar 8, 2025

Matthew Encina, former Creative Director at Blind and now a YouTube entrepreneur, shares his journey of leaving a structured job for creative freedom. He discusses the strategic thinking behind his transition, how a viral home office redesign video launched his independent career, and the balance of aesthetics in product design. Matthew also dives into his passion for custom mechanical keyboards and how they influence his design philosophy. Listeners will gain insights on maintaining creative momentum and the rewards of embracing entrepreneurial risks.

54:29

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Episode guests

Matthew Encina

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Matthew Encina's transition from Creative Director to YouTube entrepreneur illustrates the power of pursuing personal passion and authentic expression.

He emphasizes the importance of balancing aesthetics with functionality in product design, showcasing his philosophy in workspace solutions and tangible products.

Matthew discusses the emotional complexities of risk-taking in entrepreneurship, highlighting how embracing challenges leads to personal growth and creative freedom.

Deep dives

Matthew Encina's Creative Journey

Matthew Encina shares his background as a creative professional with over 20 years of experience, starting from his studies in graphic design at ArtCenter in 2006. He describes his journey from being a student to interning and subsequently becoming a creative director at Blind, where he worked on notable projects for brands like Xbox and Coldplay. In 2016, he transitioned to a new role at The Future, allowing him to explore content creation and teaching, which helped him realize his potential for sharing knowledge. This exploration ultimately led him to build his own YouTube channel, where he combines his passion for creativity with engaging content production.

Intro

3min

Navigating Career Changes and Creative Ventures

12min

The Journey from Salary to Creative Freedom

2min

Embracing Creative Freedom

8min

Creative Journeys: Building a Note-Taking Kit

6min

The Art of Mechanical Keyboards

9min

Embracing Uncertainty: A Journey of Creative Exploration

2min

Curiosity and Intentionality in Content Creation

13min

In this episode, I sit down with Matthew Encina for an intimate look at his inspiring transition from Creative Director at renowned design studio Blind to successful YouTube entrepreneur. Following the viral success of his home office redesign video that catalyzed his independent career, Matthew shares the strategic thinking and creative courage behind his pivot.

We dive deep into his evolution as a product designer, exploring how he artfully balances aesthetics with practical functionality in everything from workspace design to digital products. You'll hear Matthew's unique insights on maintaining creative momentum while working solo, including his morning fitness routine that fuels his productivity. We also geek out over his passion for custom mechanical keyboards and explore how this hobby influences his design philosophy.

Whether you're a creative professional considering the leap to entrepreneurship or simply fascinated by the intersection of design and business, Matthew's candid discussion of risk-taking and personal growth offers valuable lessons for navigating your own creative journey.

From sophisticated workspace solutions to cultivating sustainable creative practices, this conversation delivers actionable insights for anyone looking to elevate their creative game.

Timestamps:

(01:22) - Matthew Encina's Journey: From Student to Creative Director

(02:33) - Venturing into Content Creation

(03:10) - The Big Decision: Leaving The Futur

(06:07) - Success on YouTube: The First Viral Video

(11:58) - Balancing Content Creation and Product Design

(15:11) - Financial Success and Personal Freedom

(17:25) - The Transition to Independent Projects

(24:44) - Collaborating with Grovemade

(29:00) - Reflecting on Gratitude and Success

(30:16) - Diving into Mechanical Keyboards

(31:53) - The Joy of Custom Keyboards