Mohammed Ali Vakil is the writer and artist at Sufi Comics. He designs insightful and engaging visuals to simplify spiritual wisdom from Islamic traditions, that will help nurture your soul.
Here’s Ali’s interview where he shares his creative process and inspirations.
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Tell us a little bit about yourself and your business. How did you get started, and what inspired you to use visuals to help grow your business?
I have always been passionate about comics since I was a child. I find them to be a captivating and engaging way to tell stories and share ideas. Growing up, I was exposed to various comic series like Amar Chitra Katha, Tinkle, Tin Tin, and Asterix. This passion for comics was accompanied my learning about Islamic history and tradition.
In 2009, I was inspired to bring these stories to life through the medium of visuals and comics. Although I don't have any formal training in drawing or creating comics, my motivation to share these valuable stories drove me to study the art form and develop my skills.
I started sharing my comics on Facebook, and the positive response I received encouraged me to create my own website, suficomics.com, in 2012.
Since then, I've published six books that use visuals to help people connect with the lessons and guidance from stories in Islamic history and tradition.
How do you use visuals to communicate your ideas or products to your audience?
In my experience, I've found that using simple visuals, such as illustrations or sketches, can help convey complex spiritual concepts more easily.
To create these visuals, I often start by finding a quote that deeply resonates with me. As I reflect on the quote, I visualize relevant images and begin to sketch them out.
I rarely settle for the first draft. Instead, I take the time to revisit and refine the visual representation, ensuring it effectively communicates the essence of the quote or idea. This iterative process allows me to develop visuals that are both engaging and informative for my audience.
Social media platforms where you share your content.
Twitter, Instagram
Can you share some specific examples of how using visuals has helped you attract new customers or clients, or helped you stand out from competitors?
Using visuals definitely helps to stand out. People like seeing pictures and images, so making good visuals can give you an advantage.
Not everyone creates visuals because it takes time, but they can help explain difficult ideas easily, and people can remember and share them better.
I like using Instagram for sharing visuals more than Twitter. When I share my pictures there, it makes people curious about my books and helps me connect with them.
What tools or software do you use to create and edit your visuals?
Canva, Sketch drawing
Are there any tips you have for someone who is just starting out and doesn't have a lot of design experience?
For someone just starting out in design without much experience, I would recommend a few key steps to help you build your skills and confidence:
Enroll in beginner-friendly courses: There are many online courses available that cater to beginners in the design field. Two that I recommend are:
These courses will introduce you to essential design concepts and techniques.
Follow inspiring artists: Identify artists and designers whose work you admire, and follow them on social media or subscribe to their blogs. This will help you stay inspired, learn about different styles, and gain insights into their creative processes.
Read informative books: There are many great books that can teach you about design principles and techniques. Some recommendations:
These books will provide you with valuable knowledge and inspiration.
Remember, learning design is a gradual process. So, be patient with yourself and enjoy the journey. Practice regularly and don't be afraid to experiment with different styles and techniques.
How do you measure the success of your visual content? Do you track metrics like engagement, clicks, or conversions, and how do you use that data to inform future visual content?
I believe it's essential to balance both internal motivation and external validation. Creating visuals is a labor of love for me, so I'll continue to do it even if it doesn't receive high levels of engagement. I feel that staying true to my artistic vision and being driven by internal motivation are vital for maintaining authenticity in my work.
However, I do recognize the importance of understanding how my visual content resonates with my audience. I look at metrics such as Instagram engagement and newsletter replies to gauge the response. These metrics provide me with valuable data points that inform my future content decisions.
In the end, I use these insights to refine my approach while still staying true to what resonates with me personally. By striking a balance between my internal motivations and audience feedback, I aim to create visual content that not only fulfills my creative passion but also connects with my audience.
Do you have any advice for other creators/ solopreneurs who are just starting out and want to use visuals to help grow their business?
Yes, being a solopreneur can be quite challenging, as there's a lot to manage and prioritize. When it comes to using visuals to help grow your business, my advice would be to focus on the tasks that have the highest leverage and contribute the most to your business growth.
Creating visuals may not always be the most efficient use of your time as a solopreneur. Instead, consider collaborating with someone who specializes in creating visuals. By providing them with your ideas and input, they can turn those concepts into eye-catching and effective visuals for your business.
This approach allows you to focus on other high-impact tasks while still benefiting from professional-quality visuals that can enhance your brand and attract more customers.
What are some common mistakes to avoid, or tips for creating visually engaging content on a budget?
Some common mistakes to avoid include using fancy software when it's not necessary and creating visuals for external validation rather than personal enjoyment or motivation. Instead, you can get started with simple tools like pen and paper, focusing on your own internal motivation to keep you going.
It's also helpful to think in terms of metaphors when creating visuals. This can make your content more engaging and memorable.
Cultivate the habit of collecting ideas and inspiration, so when you're ready to create, you have a wealth of inspiring material to draw from rather than staring at a blank page.
Lastly, when starting out, try expressing your ideas through simple frameworks such as graphs, pie-charts, spectrums, and Venn diagrams. These require minimal skill but can be powerful in conveying insights and making your content visually appealing.
Finally, where can we go to learn more about you and your business, and see some examples of your visual content in action?
If you're interested in learning more about me and my work, you can visit my main website at www.suficomics.com. This is where you'll find all the information about what I do. Additionally, to see some examples of my visual content in action, you can check out these specific posts on Twitter:
What is humility? (click the image to see the full tweet)
Challenges will unlock your potential
When to take decisions?
We are like trees