Meet Brian Morales of Brian Designs Stuff

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Morales.

Hi Brian, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As a child, I would steal my sister’s Barbies quite frequently, and I had a quite unique way of playing with them. I would line them up, cast them in a musical, and begin to change their clothes. By the time I was done arranging costumes for each of the characters, it was time to stop playing. I couldn’t have known it then, but I was laying down the building blocks for the future passion of my life: costume design. Storytelling through clothes has felt natural to me since, as a shy gay boy in a Cuban, Catholic community, I understood that clothing was the difference between fitting in and sticking out. Through shy observation, I learned how clothes can communicate more than words, how much of someone’s story lies in the colors, patterns, and stitch lines of their outfit.

A combination of my shyness and my mother’s taste in Hollywood B-movies further propelled my love for costume. I grew up very used to feeling out of place, with my best friend being my exceptional mother, Lizzie. She took it upon herself to fill my ever-growing internal fantasy life with other out-of-place voices. I was the only fourth grader at my school with an avid love of John Waters, The Stepford Wives, To Wong Foo, Troop Beverly Hills, RuPaul, Clueless, and Shirley MacLaine. I could quote Bette Midler’s film Big Business before I could spell. This built my love of fashion in film, cultural icons, and queer artists. Now I have had many industry mentors compliment my cultural knowledge and the way I can reference films from decades before my time. Thanks, Mom!

I spent a lot of time as an actor but knew that could never be my career; I was too sensitive. It was around this time I learned that costume design could be an actual job, and I was hooked. I have been very fortunate since to work with other incredible creatives and artists who have propelled my career and artistic endeavors all the way to SCAD.

I specifically want to highlight some of the incredible women I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from. Costume design is a historically female-dominated field, and the impacts of that remain to this day. Madelyn Damazo and her production company Mad Woman Film Co. have been incredible creative partners to me. Damazo gave me my first film job and has brought me back every time since. My work has flourished and grown alongside hers, and I am grateful to work with someone who dreams so big and has the nerve and tenacity to make dreams tangible.

Naomi Gonzalez Kahn, a production design professor at SCAD, has served as an incredible mentor and role model to me and has been instrumental in getting me opportunities in the professional industry. Naomi has pushed me to embrace my authenticity and uniqueness as a designer since my first day of class with her! Through Naomi, I got the opportunity to remotely intern for my personal hero, costume designer Mona May! Mona is a legend in our field, and getting to work in her orbit is invaluable education in the art of fashion and costume!

As I look to my senior year at SCAD, I am ready for any opportunities to create, design, and collaborate with other artists. I love to tell stories through clothes and use costume as a tool to amplify the voices of other artists.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Filmmaking is almost never a smooth road. As I mentioned, costume design is a female-dominated industry and has been since the infancy of filmmaking. This has sadly historically led to a lack of respect toward the art of costume design and the artisans who make it happen. I have had many experiences where my work was not taken seriously, my authority as a department head and designer was not respected, and my talent was undermined as simply picking out cute outfits. In cases like this, I remind myself of the strong will of my heroes and mentors in this field, choosing to advocate and reeducate on the proper way to treat a costume designer.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a Costume Designer and Costume Illustrator for film, television, and theater, although I primarily work in film at the moment. I like to design costumes that toe the line between reality and fantasy. My work is ultimately character-driven while blending nostalgia, theatricality, and emotional storytelling. I love to create a sense of nostalgia by referencing vintage and past aesthetics without being concerned with the rules of historical accuracy. We’re telling stories not curating museum exhibitions! My work is heavily rooted in campy, audacious imagery while still grounding it in authenticity and affection for the character whose story we are telling. I take huge inspiration from costume designers like Mona May and Edith Head and fashion designers like Betsey Johnson, Jeremy Scott, and Todd Oldham.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am always looking to collaborate with more artists and filmmakers who want to tell exciting stories. Anyone can reach out to me with collaboration opportunities through my art account @briandesignsstuff!!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briandesignsstuff