Art Director Juan Pablo Figueroa Casas shares why storytelling is the future of content creation

Once a young graphic design student fascinated by the emotional power of visuals, Juan Pablo Figueroa Casas now works as an award-winning Art Director. With a career spanning over 25 years, his work has captured the attention of entertainment giants, like Netflix, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon, and has also allowed him to be recognized by prestigious professional organizations, like the Cannes Lions and the Webby Awards.

The talented professional puts his success down to his determination to create content with purpose. He dreams of impacting the world one story at a time.

At the same time, he wants to inspire other creatives to share in his story of success. His career journey offers important takeaways for anyone looking to thrive in the modern creative landscape. Here are some of these lessons:

1.

Start where you are. Even small beginnings can teach big lessons.

Juan’s creative journey began far from the glitter of Hollywood. His first job involved designing basic signage and print materials while studying Graphic Design. Through this work, he learned the importance of discipline, attention to detail, and the art of visual communication.

Yet even then, he knew he was chasing something more and dreamt of creating stories which would not just entertain but also move and inspire.

This hunger for more led him to one of the largest advertising agencies in his city, where his skills sharpened under pressure.

2.

Persistence beats luck. Keep showing up and sharing your work.

It was during his personal time that Juan truly began to plant the seeds for his future. Along with a business partner, he launched Ilusionario, Illustration & Animation Studio, sharing personal illustrations and animations on social media, purely for the love of it.

Through sheer persistence and passion, Juan’s work, as an art director, began attracting attention from international clients, like McCann Lima, Rosado Toledo&, Fundación CA, Animaginary, Rab2B, JWT Caribe, and Ogilvy Costa Rica. With these clients, he worked for brands like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Cruz Roja España, Cáritas Argentina, Kodak, Ford, Honda, Canal Encuentro, Tarjeta Naranja, YPF, Banco Santander, Leading Tree, American Express, Oster, Gamesa, Adams, Kimberly Clark, Royal, Mitsubishi Pacifico, Sparkies, Entel Peru, Grido, Talleres Córdoba, Nestle, Barcelona FC.

He explains: “After agency hours, I made it my job to send emails every day showcasing our work. Little by little, clients started reaching out. We were lucky to take on animated projects, illustrations, series, and even win awards. Our work gained international recognition. I was working two shifts, enjoying every project along the way.”

3.

Purpose is everything. Great visuals alone aren’t enough without a meaningful story behind them.

Juan explains that in spite of his growing success, he never lost sight of what fueled his journey: storytelling that means something.

He says this is a lesson that is more relevant than ever in today’s fast-paced, content-saturated world. “Audiences aren’t just looking for beautiful visuals, they crave connection, authenticity, and purpose,” he says.

He says that he understood this early and built his career around it.

4.

Lead with empathy. Treat your team and your audience with respect and authenticity.

Juan’s entire career has been marked by great moments in leadership. One of the most memorable of these has been his creation of Drimgo Studio, which he founded alongside his wife. This next step in his career marked a turning point for him. He says that from the start, Drimgo had a clear mission, which was to create purposeful content that leaves a lasting impact. The studio’s projects range from educational series for the U.S. market to animated government campaigns and heartfelt short films.

The company has been the powerhouse of success behind internationally acclaimed projects. Juan’s work on Michael Mankowski’s Back Home Again, an animated feature boasting a high-profile voice cast including Kim Basinger, Michael J. Fox, Jeremy Renner, and Eugene Levy, showcased his ability to blend powerful storytelling with striking visuals. In this film, his contributions went far beyond illustration. He played a central role in art direction and production, crafting immersive, emotionally resonant narratives. This animated feature has received critical acclaim, including two Leo Awards for Best Animation Program and Best Screenwriting in an Animation Program, as well as the Best Short Film award and the Audience Choice Award at the Edmonton International Film Festival.

Today, Drimgo is developing its most ambitious project yet: a 2D animated feature film for adults, created in collaboration with U.S.-based studios featuring A-list Hollywood talent. While the specifics are still under wraps, one thing is clear, and that is that this project, like all of Juan’s work, will be driven by heart, not just spectacle.

A focused future based on lessons from the past

Juan explains that these lessons from his career journey have provided the foundation on which he is building his future. Looking ahead, he says he dreams of making Drimgo a globally recognized brand. He wants it to be a studio known for heartfelt, innovative, visually stunning storytelling.

“His vision is for the Drimgo name to become a signature of excellence—so much so that every project is recognized as unmistakably ours,” he says.

And if his journey so far is any indication, he’s well on his way.

Juan’s journey is a powerful example of why purpose-driven storytelling is becoming the future of content creation. In an era where audiences can sense inauthenticity a mile away, the creatives who stand out are those who pair technical excellence with genuine emotional resonance.