My name is Kaliq Ray and I was born and raised in Miami, fl. I’m a twenty year old freelance graphic designer and illustrator and also president/founder of the MIU Multi Major Organization in Miami. I am in college currently studying for a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. I have always been into art. My Name “Kaliq” means "The Creator". As a child growing up, I have always had the skill for drawing. In school, I would draw portraits and cartoons for my fellow classmates. I didn’t know at the time that this gift would be integral in the creative field that I’m in now. Seeing all the graphic work of illustrators in the cartoons I was watching (accolades to Genndy Tartakovsky for all the awesome animation growing up!) to the videogames I played as a kid, ultimately shaped the way I see and create design.

A lot of my work uses illustration to convey or symbolize ideas. My style is influenced by past designers such as Saul Bass, M.C. Esher and Milton Glaser etc. However, I also love to get inspiration from present day illustrators and designers such as Lesean Thomas (The Boondocks),Filip Pagowski, Tadahiro Uesugi, Ashley Wood, Francesco Franchi, and Kevin Dart etc.. I was raised in a very traditional way so I think that’s why I like to convey a lot of things through illustration. I usually love looking back at 1950’s & 60’s illustration.

I usually get the term “an old man in a young body” because of the way I present myself. Like I said, the styles that influence me are those of the 50’s & 60’s. The influence does not stop at design for me, but also it influences the way I dress as well. Vintage styles from the fifties to the seventies are what I like the most. I think it takes me back to a simpler time when men and woman had more originality and cared about the world around them more. I’m not saying that people don’t care about the world today, it’s just back then people exercise their rights more.

As a creative, I feel it’s needed to create design that brings people together and effectively communicates ideals of positivity. A lot of the messages that we see or buy into (brands like Jordan, Apple, and Mcdonalds) ultimately come from the mind of some creative(s) down the line. With such influential power, shouldn’t there be a greater responsibility? I think so. Design is my interest and people are my passion.
If you’re interested in contacting me my website is

www.KaliqRay.com