Design Matters with Debbie Millman
Guest: Santiago Carrasquilla
Date: April 6, 2026
Episode Theme:
Exploring the intertwined relationship between creativity, emotion, and life’s journey through the lens of designer, director, and Art Camp founder Santiago Carrasquilla.
Main Theme:
This episode centers on Santiago Carrasquilla’s creative evolution—from a young immigrant with a love for art and music to an acclaimed multidisciplinary creator at the helm of Art Camp. The conversation delves into the fusion of emotional truth and craft, the importance of stamina, collaboration, and “virtuous circles” that fuel lifelong creativity.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Early Experiences and Creative Foundations
- Migration and Adaptability
- Santiago’s childhood included moves from Colombia to Switzerland, LA, and finally New York, cultivating adaptability and a passion for transformation.
“On my third big change… I took with me something entirely different, which was like a dream.” (09:47)
- Santiago’s childhood included moves from Colombia to Switzerland, LA, and finally New York, cultivating adaptability and a passion for transformation.
- First Creative Memory:
- Creating an oil painting at age 7 for an admired artist, drawn to how art and life were inseparable for that family.
“He made a really big impression on me when I was a kid, but not so much the art, but more the way the art spilled into his life.” (12:40)
- Creating an oil painting at age 7 for an admired artist, drawn to how art and life were inseparable for that family.
- Influence of Artists in His Life:
- Early influences included an artist friend’s father and, later, Kenny Scharf, with whom art and life were one seamless practice.
“There was no distinction between the two…He had literal interventions of his hand in every single corner of the house.” (17:44)
- Early influences included an artist friend’s father and, later, Kenny Scharf, with whom art and life were one seamless practice.
2. Navigating Fear and Ambition
- Creative Fear & Family Expectations
- Despite being encouraged, Santiago hesitated to pursue art, feeling the need for a “practical” path and to make a living.
“I’ve always wanted, I think since I was a kid, to be two things. I’ve always wanted to be an artist. And I think I also always wanted to be a business person.” (21:13)
- Despite being encouraged, Santiago hesitated to pursue art, feeling the need for a “practical” path and to make a living.
- Power of Desire and Longing
- Romantic love influenced major life decisions, from moves to New York for a relationship to splitting time in Mexico City.
“It’s not a coincidence that I moved to New York to be with someone I loved and that now I’m living in Mexico City to also be with someone I love.” (23:34)
- Romantic love influenced major life decisions, from moves to New York for a relationship to splitting time in Mexico City.
3. From Advertising to Design & Animation
- At New York’s School of Visual Arts, proximity between advertising, design, and motion graphics led Santiago organically toward design and animation.
“My heart was much more open or much more leaping towards studying design.” (24:43)
- Breaking Into the Industry
- Created standout handwritten animation GIFs as portfolio introductions to studios, accelerating opportunity and responses.
“The hit rate, let’s say, went from like 0% to 100%...Every single person that I ever sent one of these to would respond extremely excitedly.” (25:49)
- Created standout handwritten animation GIFs as portfolio introductions to studios, accelerating opportunity and responses.
4. Sagmeister & Walsh: Experimental Work and Discovery
- Immersive Studio Atmosphere
- Describes powerful camaraderie and energy at Sagmeister & Walsh, with a split focus on commercial and experimental non-client work.
“The group of people that was working there…was so inspiring…I was amazed by how talented and incredible they were.” (31:09)
- Describes powerful camaraderie and energy at Sagmeister & Walsh, with a split focus on commercial and experimental non-client work.
- Notable Projects & Mantras
- Created films like the iconic balloon project:
“If I don’t ask, I won’t get.” (33:41)
- Created films like the iconic balloon project:
- Importance of Experimentation and Play
- Recurring theme: embracing experimental processes, persistence, and risk-taking as key to creative breakthroughs.
5. The Birth & Philosophy of Art Camp
- Studio Ethos: “Emotion → Form”
- The heart of Santiago’s practice lies in emotionally fueled, collaborative creation.
“Through work and through creating is the main way that I connect with people in the world…and in the end you end up with form.” (36:06)
- Emphasizes emotional connection within teams as foundational to successful work.
- The heart of Santiago’s practice lies in emotionally fueled, collaborative creation.
6. Signature Works and Approach
-
Mitsky’s “Pearl” Video
- Emotion at the core: over 3,000 hand-illustrated frames blended 3D and tactile media, rooted in a singular, evocative image of falling.
“I don’t think you know…you just hope…You can know how you are going to feel and respond to it.” (39:09)
- Emotion at the core: over 3,000 hand-illustrated frames blended 3D and tactile media, rooted in a singular, evocative image of falling.
-
Thom Yorke’s “Last I Heard” Video
- Collaborative, intuitive process with creative freedom fueled by Radiohead’s music and Stanley Donwood’s album art.
“Tom York talked for 30 minutes, said, this is how I was feeling. Take it or leave it. Do whatever you want. It was pretty nice.” (44:39)
- Making art for heroes amplifies both ambition and challenge.
“If I could ever make anything that makes anybody feel the way [Radiohead] is making me feel…that is the dream.” (45:31)
- Collaborative, intuitive process with creative freedom fueled by Radiohead’s music and Stanley Donwood’s album art.
-
Performative Endurance in Creation
- Discusses massive commitment: days for a mural, hours puppeteering, thousands of hand-made frames.
“The more I create, the more I love doing it. The more things I make, the more things I want to make.” (48:44)
- Discusses massive commitment: days for a mural, hours puppeteering, thousands of hand-made frames.
7. Seeking Simplicity, Joy, and Meaning
- Luis Benz & the Value of Simple Things
- Documentary “La Felicidad se consigue con cosas muy simples” (“Happiness is Achieved with Very Simple Things”) conveys the wisdom gathered from self-taught sign painter Luis Benz—perseverance, humility, and joy amid hardship.
“He chooses to see the silver lining…Maybe he’s some sort of a Buddha or something.” (54:55)
- Documentary “La Felicidad se consigue con cosas muy simples” (“Happiness is Achieved with Very Simple Things”) conveys the wisdom gathered from self-taught sign painter Luis Benz—perseverance, humility, and joy amid hardship.
8. Looking Forward: Hopes for the Next Decade
- Dreams for Art Camp
- Envisions making ever-bigger, more personal and commercial creative dreams come true, buoyed by the inspiring people he works with.
“I hope that I’m still just working with people that I really love, people who really inspire me and people who astonish me.” (57:12)
- Aspires to feature-length films, balancing major commercial projects with deeply personal, self-initiated work.
- Envisions making ever-bigger, more personal and commercial creative dreams come true, buoyed by the inspiring people he works with.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the Virtuous Circle of Creativity:
"The more I create, the more I love doing it. The more things I make, the more things I want to make."
— Santiago Carrasquilla (00:42, 48:44) -
On Emotional Core in Creative Work:
"Ultimately, hopefully in the end it’s love...You put your minds and hearts together to create something that didn’t yet exist."
— Santiago Carrasquilla (36:06) -
On Stamina and Devotion:
“I’m often amazed, even just with myself, how much energy seems to be inside of me, ready to devote to working.”
— Santiago Carrasquilla (48:28) -
On Embracing Uncertainty in Art:
"I don’t think you know…you just hope. You just…You can know how you are going to feel and respond to it."
— Santiago Carrasquilla (39:09) -
On Learning from Mentors:
“I was crying to Weird Fishes on this airplane, writing in my journal, saying this feeling that this music is giving me…If I could ever one day give this to somebody else, that is the dream.”
— Santiago Carrasquilla (45:23) -
On Keeping Things Simple:
“Happiness is Achieved with Very Simple Things.”
— Luis Benz / Santiago Carrasquilla (53:21) -
On Team and Collaboration:
“Everybody that I work with at Art Camp astonishes me. I am your fan. I am their fan. Every single person who works at Art Camp blows me away.”
— Santiago Carrasquilla (57:12)
Key Timestamps
- Brief on the Cigarette Paper Mural for Stefan Sagmeister: 03:55 — 08:07
- Early Migration & Identity: 08:14 —11:02
- First Creative Memory, Art’s Influence: 11:05 — 13:54
- Discovery of Music & Creative Shift: 13:57 — 16:50
- Mentorship from Kenny Scharf & Integrating Life/Art: 16:51 — 20:06
- Navigating Fear & Career Choices: 20:32— 22:35
- The Role of Desire in Life Decisions: 22:35 — 23:57
- Transition from Advertising to Design: 23:57 — 25:09
- Breaking Into Studios, Animated Emails: 25:09 — 27:49
- Atmosphere at Sagmeister & Walsh, Notable Projects: 30:12 — 34:45
- Founding Art Camp, “Emotion → Form” Philosophy: 35:40 — 38:36
- Mitsky’s “Pearl” Video: 38:36 — 41:23
- Thom Yorke Collaboration: 41:23 — 47:08
- Creative Stamina, Work as Performance: 48:28 — 50:33
- Luis Benz and the Documentary: 50:33 — 55:14
- Vision for Next 10 Years: 56:18 — 59:01
Tone and Style
This conversation is reflective, joyous, candid, and passionate, full of warmth and profound honesty about the creative journey. Santiago’s words are laced with affection for his collaborators, mentors, and the act of creation itself, while Debbie Millman gently draws out thematic connections and underlying motivations.
Summary prepared for those seeking inspiration from a creative life shaped by risk, resilience, emotional authenticity, and purposeful making.