Margaret Flatley, BFA in Communication Design ’16
Margaret Flatley, BFA ’16, learned how to think about being a working creative in a different way. “I had rigid goals for myself throughout high school and most of college, but WashU helped break those down and show me that there are many ways to be a creative person and create art.” Learn more about Margaret’s professional journey, from WashU to today, in this spotlight.
Tell us about your work.
I’m a full-time graphic designer at Bustle Digital Group and a freelance illustrator for editorial publications including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Barron’s, and NPR. In my illustration work, I’m drawn to narrative-driven stories with emotional and fantastical elements, and I enjoy transforming everyday moments into energetic, imaginative compositions. As a designer, I combine strategic thinking with hands-on creative execution, with a focus on collaboration and thoughtful storytelling.
What does an average day or week look like?
An average day for me consists of getting up early in the morning to answer emails, complete sketches, and finalize illustrations for freelance commissions. I then switch over to my full-time design job around 9 a.m. and work until around 5 p.m. I then switch to working on my graphic novel (thumbnailing, sketching, final art), which is likely to be published in 2027.
Polygon
How did your WashU education prepare you for your current role?
WashU gave me a lot of technical and preparatory skills that I still use every day, especially in my design work. Illustration comes much more naturally to me, but graphic design was something I had a to learn from the ground up. Typography, layout, and digital collage were all things I learned while at WashU that I still use every day.
What was your “aha" moment during your time at WashU?
I had an awesome professor, Doug Dowd, who handed me “It’s a Good Life, If You Don’t Weaken,” a graphic novel by Seth, and the doors completely blew open for what I thought was possible. I had knowledge of comics, but had never been exposed to graphic novels, so to have such a unique illustrator’s perspective literally plopped in my hands was a huge awakening. It showed me what was possible within the illustration world, and eventually influenced me to start creating my own comics and graphic novels.
What advice would you give a current high school or college student interested in your field?
If you’re interested in illustration, just keep drawing as much as you can and NEVER edit yourself. Even as an experienced illustrator I still have trouble not self-editing while I sketch, but it’s so important to express yourself freely without barriers. The more you draw, the more a style will start to form. The longer you draw, the more comfortable you’ll be accepting that style as your own. Start with small projects when you’re just starting out. Build a portfolio from self-initiated ideas, pitch to lots of small editorial publications and, slowly but surely, you will amass a client list.
Barron’s
Los Angeles Times
The Ethel
What do you wish people knew about your field?
I wish people knew how difficult it is to get a foot in the door especially when you’re just starting out and that success as an illustrator takes a lot of time, hard work, and perseverance.
What skills did you get from a creative education that have helped you in your career?
I learned how to think about being a working creative in a different way. I had rigid goals for myself throughout high school and most of college, but WashU helped break those down and show me that there are many ways to be a creative person and create art.
What did you do after graduation, and how did you get where you are now?
After graduation, I immediately went into a graphic design job in New York City. From there, I bounced around between a few more design jobs before I decided that I really wanted to give illustration a chance. During the pandemic, I initiated several projects to build out a portfolio, and then began pitching that portfolio to editorial publications. It took years of promotional emails and consistent work before I finally amassed a client list I was very proud of. The key is to never give up.