Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Illustrator, designer, and creative strategist Orlando Arocena — better known as “Mexifunk” — joins me to talk about his journey from growing up in the Bronx to creating artwork for some of the biggest franchises in pop culture, including Spider-Man, Terrifier, SpongeBob, Power Rangers, John Wick, and more.
In this episode we discuss:
• Building a recognizable art style
• Pushing Adobe Illustrator beyond its limits
• The reality of working with major studios
• Licensing, contracts, and creative ownership
• AI and the future of creativity
• Why authenticity matters more than ever
00:00 Intro
01:14 Who is Orlando Arocena?
02:19 The Origin of “Mexifunk”
04:12 Growing Up in the Bronx
09:17 Almost Giving Up on Art
13:23 The Wolverine Piece That Changed Everything
16:19 Standing Out as a Creative
19:18 Learning Adobe Illustrator the Hard Way
26:38 Why Orlando Chose Vector Over Photoshop
28:46 Working With Major Brands & Studios
33:53 Why Most Artists Don’t Stand Out
35:30 Breaking Adobe Illustrator
37:53 Adobe Invites Orlando to MAX
42:13 “You Changed the Look of Vector”
45:55 What Illustrator Still Needs
56:11 Why Audiences Crave Unique Art
57:44 Designing for SpongeBob vs Terrifier
01:00:53 Why Orlando Only Works With Brands He Loves
01:06:04 How Much Freedom Do Big Studios Give Artists?
01:11:11 Projects That Never Get Released
01:12:21 The Business & Legal Side of Art
01:17:06 Advice for Younger Creatives
01:34:33 AI & The Future of Creativity
01:44:10 Respecting the Craft
01:45:11 Final Thoughts
Illustrator, designer, and creative strategist Orlando Arocena — better known as “Mexifunk” — joins me to talk about his journey from growing up in the Bronx to creating artwork for some of the biggest franchises in pop culture, including Spider-Man, Terrifier, SpongeBob, Power Rangers, John Wick, and more.
In this episode we discuss:
• Building a recognizable art style
• Pushing Adobe Illustrator beyond its limits
• The reality of working with major studios
• Licensing, contracts, and creative ownership
• AI and the future of creativity
• Why authenticity matters more than ever
00:00 Intro
01:14 Who is Orlando Arocena?
02:19 The Origin of “Mexifunk”
04:12 Growing Up in the Bronx
09:17 Almost Giving Up on Art
13:23 The Wolverine Piece That Changed Everything
16:19 Standing Out as a Creative
19:18 Learning Adobe Illustrator the Hard Way
26:38 Why Orlando Chose Vector Over Photoshop
28:46 Working With Major Brands & Studios
33:53 Why Most Artists Don’t Stand Out
35:30 Breaking Adobe Illustrator
37:53 Adobe Invites Orlando to MAX
42:13 “You Changed the Look of Vector”
45:55 What Illustrator Still Needs
56:11 Why Audiences Crave Unique Art
57:44 Designing for SpongeBob vs Terrifier
01:00:53 Why Orlando Only Works With Brands He Loves
01:06:04 How Much Freedom Do Big Studios Give Artists?
01:11:11 Projects That Never Get Released
01:12:21 The Business & Legal Side of Art
01:17:06 Advice for Younger Creatives
01:34:33 AI & The Future of Creativity
01:44:10 Respecting the Craft
01:45:11 Final Thoughts
