design/leader: Mirella Arapian, MEK studio

This week, we interview Mirella Arapian, founder & executive creative director at MEK. With a planet-first approach, she has two decades of experience building impact-led brands across Australia and North America for organisations such as WWF Australia, RMIT University, PETA Australia, Sea Shepherd, Revival Projects, and Mavens.

Mirella talks to us about taking design inspiration from nature, vulnerability in design, and Comme des Garçons.

Design

What would your monograph be called?

No Fonts on a Dead Planet.

It would be a reflection on design as a force for cultural, environmental, and systemic change. It would also explore what action designers can take. There’s a gap between the design’s influence and the responsibility it carries. We don’t talk about the climate crisis in this industry, and that needs to change.

What recent design work made you a bit jealous?

More in awe than jealous.

Iris van Herpen’s Sonic Starquakes at Paris Haute Couture Week. I love the way she combines technology with traditional couture craftsmanship to create pieces that feel otherworldly. Divine.

What’s an unusual place you get inspiration from?

The beauty and complexity of the Universe inspire me so much. I love that every planet in the Solar System has its own identity; that’s so exciting to me. Space also gives me more than inspiration. When I feel stressed or overwhelmed, I look to the night sky because it reminds me that I’m a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam (RIP Carl Sagan).

Name something that is brilliantly designed, but overlooked.

Nature, the original designer.

All systems exist in relationship with each other, everything is interconnected, and nothing is wasted. The most sophisticated design system ever.

What object in your studio best sums up your taste?

Switch magazine’s Comme des Garçons 50th anniversary issue.

It’s the only object that doesn’t move from my desk. Comme des Garçons represents my love of radical creativity and avant-garde culture, and I look to it all the time in my creative direction.

Leadership

What feedback felt brutal at the time, but turned out to be useful?

A client once said “that’s too radical” after their brief asked for something radical.

In theory, many clients want change, but real change takes courage. The feedback was useful because part of my role now involves helping clients navigate uncertainty and build the confidence to embrace change. This leads to unexpected results that push the boundaries of what they thought was possible.

What’s an underappreciated skill that design leaders need?

Vulnerability.

We need the willingness to ask questions and admit when we’re wrong or don’t know something. It took me a long time to be able to do that. It’s not easy because clients and teams look to you for direction, so there’s an expectation that you have all the answers. In my experience, being vulnerable creates space for others to contribute, challenge ideas, and bring their own perspective. The most rewarding work happens when people feel safe to do that, not when they’re just executing what you’ve already decided.

What keeps you up at night?

The possums in the tree next to my window.

And that we’re living through some of the most urgent times in history, but too much of design is still focused on creating consumption and short-term value. We need to move past only making things look good to also questioning why they should exist in the first place.

What trait is non-negotiable in new hires?

Curiosity.

Skills can be learned, but curiosity leads to deeper thinking and exploration, and more considered outcomes. Passion is just as important. Our work is highly strategic and ambitious, so caring about it matters.

Complete this sentence: “I wish more clients…”

…took risks.

The best work rarely comes from playing it safe or following trends but from having the courage to create something new. That’s how we move culture forward.

If you’d like to be interviewed for our design leaders series, drop us a line at [email protected]