“Ever since I began as a professional designer, I decided that the only way to develop my graphic approach and intellectual concerns was to work in the European creative market, in spite of the distance,” says Diego Becas. The Santiago-based illustrator, designer and multidisciplinary artist has built up an enviable client list across the worlds of publishing, theatre and music in recent years, but it’s been a constant challenge to pursue a creative career in his home country.

He puts this down to a number of reasons, including the fact that Chile is a small market where there aren’t many clients or established design studios, there’s no magazine or newspaper culture to speak of, and while there are a large number of independent creatives, for many of them it’s a battle to maintain a steady income from their craft. “All these factors have combined to prevent the development of a broad, diverse and steady Chilean cultural market. We are spectators and recipients in the world concert of the creative industry.”

In his own practice, Becas draws inspiration from artists such as Alexander Calder; the visual and sonic worlds of musicians like Patti Smith; and the world of cinema and its directors including Stanley Kubrick, as well as a handful of other designers such as Bruno Munari.