Meet Ulises Ortiz | Designer and Lettering Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ulises Ortiz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ulises, the decisions we make often shape our story in profound ways. What was one of the most difficult decisions you’ve had to make?
I think that giving up some things, in order to continue doing what I like to do.The most difficult decision was to invest my savings to be able to go to LADFEST in Lima Peru to exhibit my work in the Young Talent category in 2017, without a doubt it was the best decision I could make in my life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m ulises but I’m known by Hulises with h, I’m a designer from Guadalajara, Mexico.

My work is specialized in branding, lettering and murals where I have the opportunity to explore and combine graffiti in my work. I am currently working at Yujo design agency where I work with my university professor Tito Romero in Guadalajara.

I have always wanted my work to speak for me, to represent the moment of each stage of my life. Exploring new things is something I always try to do, to see things from a different perspective to apply them in my work. I think that’s what makes the difference in my work, but also challenging myself and getting out of my comfort zone helps to have a better workflow.

Getting to where I am has not been easy at all, I have gone through many things, mainly to fail, which is what motivates me to overcome myself and see the things I have been doing wrong and the things I can improve to get the best results.
Sometimes I have been in a good position and sometimes in an unpleasant or bad position, a case that marked me a lot was when I had the opportunity to work in CDMX with the design agency Pineda Monterrubio where I imagined working on typography projects, but pandemic came and everything stopped. I was very discouraged to have to return to Guadalajara, sometimes I thought that my work was not good, it was something that affected me a lot.But during the pandemic I had the opportunity to do several activities such as drawing my first collective typography in the Letrastica tournament, getting more involved in graffiti and improving my graffiti skills and technique. I was also able to work in some of the design studios in Guadalajara that when I started my career I sent my work to collaborate with them but years later I was able to be part of their team.

Working on freelance projects was something that has given me more security in my work and the opportunity to propose things related to my style.I have always thought that everything comes at the right time, it’s just a matter of working day by day to achieve it, I hope in the future I can involve my work more to typography and lose that fear by dedicating enough time to it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ufff, exploring the city and finding new places to eat or drink is something I love, mainly for breakfast it could be a Tortas Ahogadas street stand or one of my favorite coffee shops in the city, but on second thought some delicious birria tacos with its consome to start the day.

Then it would be to get to know the city, mainly the downtown area using the bicycle and visiting the most typical places of the city. Making some stops to try some typical food and drinks such as a tejuino, talking to him a little about the city and the places he frequents very often. Finish the tour having dinner in a traditional mexican place with some good cocktails.

An option might be to try a different activity like painting graffiti in the street on a wall of the city, accompanied by some friends of my crew.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have many people, crews and strangers to thank for being there at every special moment and sharing their knowledge with me.

I mainly want to thank Gen Ramirez and Pilar Morones for giving me the opportunity to get involved in the world of letters and design by being part of the Letrástica team. To Karla Pasten (Mixtli) who has kept an eye on my work and has always been helping me with her comments.

To the people that I admire and with time become your friends like Miguel Reyes who has invited me to collaborate in some projects and motivate me.

There are many people that I have been able to collaborate with them in different projects such as TypeThursday Mexico City with Miguel Escamilla, Tips & Types with Herts Monroy and Eduardo Cuesta.

And of course my family for being in every moment especially my brother Gio and all the people who leave a little of their work in the streets as signpainters, graffiti writers that inspire me every day.

Website: hulises.mx

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hulises.oc

Image Credits
All photographs are my own.