Today we’d like to introduce you to Haydee Yanez.
Hi Haydee, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Haydee Yanez, a proud Native Cora from Tepic, Nayarit, and I grew up in the colorful, dynamic border town of Tijuana, México. My creative journey began during my college years at Universidad Iberoamericana, where I developed a small thesis project called MexiconsArt—a coloring book for kindergartners inspired by Mexican icons and culture. What began as a simple idea has grown into a lifelong creative mission.
Over the past 20+ years, I’ve built a career in Art Direction, Illustration, Publishing, and Consumer Products, working on a wide range of bilingual projects, from hospitality materials to children’s books. Along the way, I continued developing MexiconsArt, and today, living in Southern California, I’ve transformed it into a brand that brings together nostalgia, creativity, and my deep love for México through paper goods, accessories, and apparel.
Growing up in Tijuana, I was surrounded by the intersection of cultures—where Mexican traditions and everyday life met global influences. That experience continues to shape my work. I love taking the icons, colors, stories, and traditions that shaped my childhood and giving them a contemporary twist.
For me, MexiconsArt is more than a creative brand; it’s a way of honoring my heritage and sharing a piece of México with others. Every design carries a little bit of my story and is created to evoke memories, celebrate culture, and bring the vibrant spirit of México into everyday life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges I faced was emigrating to a new place without family nearby. Starting over in a different country came with its own uncertainties, but it also created a deep longing for community and for finding my tribe. That desire for connection became one of the driving forces behind MexiconsArt. I wanted to create something that connected me to my Mexican heritage while also creating a space where others who share that love for Mexican culture could feel a sense of belonging.
Another major challenge has been the reality of being a freelancer and creative entrepreneur. There’s no predictable 9-to-5 or safety net. You’re constantly hustling for the next show, gig, or contract, and in many ways, you work more than you would in a traditional job because you’re not only creating—you’re also running the business, finding opportunities, promoting your work, managing projects, and figuring out your own roadmap as you go.
I’ve traveled throughout Southern California and to Los Angeles for gigs and opportunities, and every new project can bring a different set of challenges. There are times when you wonder where the next opportunity will come from. But that uncertainty has also taught me to be adaptable, persistent, and willing to embrace new possibilities.
Thankfully, I’ve found an amazing creative community along the way. That support has made a huge difference. At the same time, many of us are freelancers, artists, and small business owners, so we’re often in the same boat—trying to figure things out, supporting one another, and celebrating each other’s wins.
Looking back, I think those struggles have shaped my journey just as much as the successes. They’ve pushed me to keep creating, to stay open to new opportunities, and to build something that feels authentically mine. What excites me most now is continuing to meet new people, collaborate, travel for shows and conventions, and connect with others who see themselves in my work. The road may not always be predictable, but I’ve learned to embrace that uncertainty and let it fuel my creativity rather than hold me back.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work is rooted in my love for Mexican culture, nostalgia, and graphic design. I’m a graphic designer and illustrator with more than 20 years of experience in Art Direction, Illustration, Publishing, and Consumer Products. Through MexiconsArt, I create nostalgic, playful interpretations of Mexican pop culture, icons, traditions, and everyday imagery, using a graphic and minimalist style. What started as a college thesis in the early 2000s has grown into a collection of paper goods, accessories, apparel, books, and original art.
I think what I’m best known for is taking something familiar from Mexican culture and giving it a fresh, contemporary twist. I love that moment when someone sees one of my designs and immediately connects with it because it reminds them of home, their childhood, a family member, or a piece of Mexican pop culture they grew up with. My work often plays with nostalgia and humor, while still honoring the cultural icons and stories behind the imagery.
I’m especially proud that MexiconsArt has remained authentically mine. It’s a brand that grew organically from my own experiences as a Mexican woman, a Cora from Nayarit, raised in Tijuana, and now living in Southern California. That border-town upbringing gave me a unique perspective on the intersection of Mexican traditions and contemporary culture, and I think that perspective naturally comes through in my work.
What sets me apart is that I’m not simply creating products with Mexican imagery—I’m creating from a place of personal connection. There is a story, memory, or emotion behind the icons I choose. I also love finding ways to make traditional references feel relevant and fun today. Whether it’s a calaverita, a luchador, a Mexican diva, or another familiar cultural icon, I want people to recognize it, smile, and feel that little spark of nostalgia.
Most of all, I’m proud that MexiconsArt has allowed me to turn my passion for design and my cultural heritage into something people can bring into their everyday lives. For me, that is the greatest accomplishment: creating work that celebrates where I come from while continuing to evolve with where I am today.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I think success looks different at every stage of life. Earlier on, success might have meant building a career, getting opportunities, or being able to make a living from my artwork. Today, I see it in a much broader way.
For me, success is having the freedom and leverage to create a life around the work I love, while learning to adapt and keep moving forward despite the challenges. As an immigrant and a creative entrepreneur, there have been many moments when I’ve had to figure things out as I go, create my own opportunities, and build my own path. Being able to keep going, evolve, and stay true to myself is a form of success.
Another important part of success for me is knowing that my work can touch people. When someone connects with one of my illustrations or products because it reminds them of home, their childhood, their family, or a special memory, that means so much to me. Knowing that something I created can make someone smile, feel represented, or reconnect with their culture is a kind of success that you can’t measure in numbers.
And beyond commercial success, I think some of the most meaningful measures of success are much simpler: having peace of mind, feeling safe in your home, having a warm meal, and being surrounded by people who care about you. Those things can easily be overlooked when we’re focused on accomplishments, sales, or the next goal.
Of course, I’m proud of what I’ve been able to build through my art and MexiconsArt, but success, to me, isn’t just about how much you sell or how far your business grows. It’s about creating a life that feels meaningful, having the freedom to continue creating, touching people through my work, and being grateful for the stability and connections I’ve worked hard to build. At this stage of my life, that balance feels like the real success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mexiconsart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mexiconsart/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haydeeyanez
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mexiconsart
