Meet Yoey Ceballos | Multimedia Graphic Designer

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

Hi Yoey, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
When I first started Optic Blast! Studios, I thought I had all the time in the world to produce art, manage projects, navigate a social life, and still have time for hobbies… until I had children!

While work-at-home parenting has many benefits, the work/life balance can begin to erode from a lack of boundaries. I don’t know about you, but I find it challenging to focus and be creative when the dishes need to be done.

Recently, I’ve been able to find a sweet spot between design and housework. I’ve started waking up at 4 am, a full 3 hours before anyone else needs anything from me. It allows me to have time to think, plan, and execute anything I may have missed the day prior. At the end of the day, I turn off work mode before the kids come home and enjoy the evening with my wife and daughters. I find it easier to work early in the morning with a fresh mind than late at night, after dealing with everything else.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I began my career creating vector art for my friends on MySpace circa 2004 while I attended Miami International University of Art & Design. Shortly after, I landed a graphic design role at a local print shop SoBe Graphics in Medley, FL, where I learned firsthand what real graphic design and the pre-press jobs were like.

After a few years of working with local businesses, my t-shirt designs were picked up by Ultra Music Festival from 2009-20012, and that’s when I created Optic Blast! Studios so I could sub-contract my design skills instead of working as an employee, vulnerable to an employer’s whim.

Optic Blast! Studios went on to develop nightlife event promotional materials during the expansion of Wynwood.
Since then, Optic Blast! has been subcontracted to produce merchandise designs for nationwide retail companies such as Target, Kohl’s, Burlington Coat Factory, and Spencer’s Gifts.

Optic Blast! Studios recently provided graphic design services for The SoFlo Boat Show, which was held from May 19th – 21st, 2023 at the Miami Marine Stadium.

Currently, I am working on providing original artwork and merchandise designs direct to consumers through the Optic Blast! Studios store, www.opticblast.art/ as well as developing my own intellectual property for a graphic novel, “The Science of Bern & Herb,” which will be self-published.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would kick-start our day with some BEER & BRISKET at Unbranded Brewery! Gotta’ power up! We then would make our way over to GOBLIN’S HEIST, a local comic book store in Hialeah, to grab some new books for reference. One night we could trek over to Hrodric’s Tower for a Dungeons & Dragons one-shot adventure, then blast our way down south to Arcade Odyssey for some old-school arcade fun! Marvel VS Capcom 2, here we come!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to dedicate this shoutout to my family, starting with my late grandmother, Josefina. Had it not been for my time with her and my grandfather Angel, I would not have had such confidence to embrace an artistic career without her child-like wonder of the world and unwavering support. My parents taught me how to work hard for every cent I earned, Ana and Pedro, thank you and I love you both. Shoutout to my wife, Michelle, who has supported all of my wildest ideas without skipping a beat, while somehow keeping me grounded. Shoutout to my daughters, Samus and Sadie, you gals really light a fire under my butt! XD S/O to my sister, Yenny, and my brother-law, Mike. You guys keep me motivated! I also want to thank my boys Halo, Breezy, Spectre, Fwacata, and Jayro for the inspiration to keep blasting through.

Website: www.opticblaststudios.com/

Instagram: instagram.com/joeyfunk

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeyfunk/

Twitter: twitter.com/optic_blast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joey.funk

Other: instagram.com/opticblast_ instagram.com/bernandherb

Image Credits
Stian Roenning