Megan Totah is one of bombilla's incredibly talented brand designers. bombilla projects she has brought that talent to include California Change Lawyers, Five to Nine, PL+US, Women's Media Center, WE360 and RUNWAY. In this interview, Megan chats about discovering her love of graphic design, collaborating at bombilla, and working during the pandemic.

What led you to bombilla?

I was actually reached out to by Ivellisse on LinkedIn.  She found me, she used to work out at a fitness studio called The Boombox in San Francisco and she loved the branding that was done for it, so basically she contacted Alex Mogannam, the owner of The Boombox, and said “I want to talk to this person, I want to know who this designer is,” ever since then, Ivellisse and I have been working together. It was the first time that someone was like “Oh wow, I love that, I want to work with them.” And so, that was the first time I talked with Ivellisse, and it was a great designer moment for me.  I felt so honored that someone wanted to meet me because of my work.

Tell us about your creative career path.

My creative career path... you’re going laugh but I was never good at drawing. My handwriting is the absolute worst.  My mom used to help me with my homework as a child, I would tell her what I wanted to say and she would write it down, my handwriting was just that terrible. I was always so creative but I couldn’t draw so it was hard, but when I was in middle school, I discovered Microsoft PowerPoint. I was like, "Look I can draw shapes and I can make them move or do things with them". And I found that really fun. Then in high school, I was officially taking a multimedia design class where I was like “Oh my Gosh! This is what I want to do, I can be a designer on the computer and it doesn’t involve too much drawing and I love this, and I finally found a way to express myself". It was just this huge moment for me because I just felt so lost, I loved being creative but couldn’t be an artist like so many people with pens and paint.  It just wasn’t me. But thankfully, I discovered my love for graphic design that allowed me to see how I can use my hands in a creative manner but with more purpose behind it. I realized I can’t consider myself an artist, I can’t just draw or create.  I have to have a problem to solve and work towards a creative solution. 

I can't consider myself an artist, I can't just draw or create. I have to have a problem to solve and work towards a creative solution.

During high school I kept working on my graphic design, I did a summer course at the Academy of Art and then after high school I went briefly to Chapman University at Orange County. I didn’t think I wanted to go to art school at that time but then I realized that I want to think in that creative environment with other creators. So I moved back to the bay area and I went to California College of the Arts where I met Kimberly Cho. We met through a course we took together and we’ve been friends since, always trying to collaborate with each other on projects. I feel like Bombilla is all about the creative spirit, what drives you to create purpose-driven work, to make change and I think it’s great to bring in other people that share that same vision. That’s why I thought it would be great to bring in Kimberly as well.

What do you think makes you or someone a good designer?

I think a good designer is someone that understands what they’re trying to solve, like I said before, an artist is different from a designer. A designer is out to solve some sort of problem. When I say problem, it doesn’t have to be something terrible like the climate crisis, it could be something like trying to solve for a better package design that creates a better user interaction. And a good designer does the research, they research what’s out there, they find what makes that company or product different from its competitors.  How to make something that’s different and meaningful.

I think a good designer is someone that understands what they’re trying to solve, like I said before, an artist is different from a designer. A designer is out to solve some sort of problem

What is your role at bombilla?

Ivellisse was like “what title do you want?”. 

I consider myself a brand designer, but if we had a packaging project I would love to be considered as a package designer too, it’s like branding but 2.0.  You have the brand identity and then you want to make it physical so people can interact with it, and that’s so fun.  The idea that you’re taking something that could be a website or something on Instagram but then bringing it to the physical realm as a product or something people can interact with is so special. 

Tell us about a day in your life.

I’ll wake up and then I immediately go to check to see if any clients or work has contacted me. I’m kind of anxious like that, I just need to know what’s going on.  I work full time, so I try to work from 8 to 5 on my full time job, then I try to take a little break, and that’s when I start freelancing.  It’s interesting having a full time job as well as freelance business because it’s about finding the balance sometimes.  Because most clients want to talk during the day so a day in my life is busy.  I’m always creating, which is really amazing.  I feel blessed that I’m able to do what I love.  Not a lot of people get to do what they love for a full time job and as an extra hobby outside of the job. 

Because most clients want to talk during the day so a day in my life is busy.  I’m always creating, which is really amazing.  I feel blessed that I’m able to do what I love.

Why do you think an organization should choose bombilla for its branding and design needs?

Because everyone at Bombilla legitimately cares.  Everyone who is at Bombilla is here because they want to be.  Everyone wants to create purpose-driven designs and create something different.  But overall, it’s the passion I see throughout everyone at Bombilla.  It’s rare to find designers who are happy with what they do.  Ivi makes sure that we’re happy, checking in on us and if we want to do a project or seeing who is the best fit.  Kind of having that tailored design experience.  She finds who’s good at what they do and if they enjoy it, and that’s where the passion comes through, if you’re enjoying what you do.  So when you choose Bombilla, you choose passion for the creative, and that’s what you’re going to get in your designs.

...Everyone at Bombilla legitimately cares.  Everyone who is at Bombilla is here because they want to be.  Everyone wants to create purpose-driven designs and create something different.  But overall, it’s the passion I see throughout everyone at Bombilla.  It’s rare to find designers who are happy with what they do.

How has working remotely changed the work dynamic/ way you work, or the way the team completes and executes projects at Bombilla?

I miss the drive to work, where I get to jam out to music, roll down the window, set my expectations for the day, enjoy myself, and jump into work.  In that professional setting where I’m here to work, let’s get it done.  Sometimes it’s hard; you want more structure, you don’t want to feel like a blob.  However, I do love that Bombilla is remote, everyone in bombilla loves to communicate, without communication things can fall apart.  What’s great about Ivellisse is that she figured out that Slack is a great way for everyone to stay connected, as well as the occasional meetups over zoom, making sure you have face to face time with clients, really creating those personal touches.  

What’s great about Ivellisse is that she figured out that Slack is a great way for everyone to stay connected, as well as the occasional meetups over zoom, making sure you have face to face time with clients, really creating those personal touches.  

How do you cope with what’s happening all around the country and/or world? (War, discrimination, injustice, exploitation, ecoanxiety, systemic racism, etc.) Any tips?

There have been so many emotions that I’ve gone through the past several months.  But the one thing that I’ve realized, was that the way I wanted to cope was through design. I wanted to focus my energy on creating and doing what I love because that was the only thing that I could find as a distraction. When there’s stuff happening like discrimination, injustice, sometimes design is the best way to approach people. I think being creative is a solution for what’s happening in the world right now. Whenever you’re upset you should just be creative, no matter who you are, if you’re a designer, an artist or not, just create.

I think being creative is a solution for what’s happening in the world right now. Whenever you’re upset you should just be creative, no matter who you are, if you’re a designer, an artist or not, just create.

Where would you travel if you could tomorrow?

Anywhere but here. LOL

What has the global pandemic taught you?

The global pandemic has taught me to value creativity and how impactful it can be in your life to make you happy as well as cause change. Also that I want a more balanced life, where I’m not putting all of my money into paying rent every month. I want a community of people, I want to get to know more people in my community, so I moved to Napa.  I’d like to think we’ve all learned to value air, sunlight, nature, and being happy. I want to be able to live life. 

The global pandemic has taught me to value creativity and how impactful it can be in your life to make you happy as well as cause change.

What advice would you give to someone that’s starting a career in the creative field?

Do what you love.  Enjoy what you do.  As long as you care and you’re passionate, and you keep learning, everything will fall into place.  It’s okay to explore new things and push out of your comfort zone.

As long as you care and you’re passionate, and you keep learning, everything will fall into place.

Shoutout to our 2020 fall intern Yandia Miñana Pérez for conducting this interview!