Daniel, a motion designer at LG2’s Quebec City office, is the coworker you instantly click with. Whether he’s known you for two years or two hours, he has a way of making you feel like a friend. As the child of parents who moved from Mexico to Quebec, his multicultural upbringing instilled a love of music from near and far and a natural openness to others. And his innate curiosity leads him to embrace every new experience in life.
From an early age, Daniel recognized the power of making people laugh. In second grade, he got his first taste of improv and was immediately smitten. At his alternative school in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste neighbourhood, he was introduced to the comedic arts by Mrs. Brenda. Even though Daniel was too young to take part in the extracurricular activity, the teacher made an exception for him and his friend. And he never looked back.
Daniel immersed himself in his new hobby, honing his natural talent. After reciting an entire Louis-José Houde monologue for his first performance – at barely 8 years old – he got hooked on the buzz of laughter. He continued taking part in improv events throughout high school and CEGEP.
In the meantime, Daniel worked at a community-based organization, looking for a career to match his personality and skills. He decided to audition for the LUI, a well-known improvisation league at Université Laval. But there was a hitch: All recruits needed to be enrolled at the university. Refusing to give up on his passion, Daniel signed up for a course. And since you never know where one small decision will lead, Daniel met the love of his life at his (successful!) audition for the LUI.
Eventually, Daniel found what he was looking for: a graphic and motion design program. During the last year of his DEC, he learned that he was going to become a father. And then, like a scene from a movie, his life changed the week of his final exhibition at school: his daughter was born and he received an internship offer from LG2.
Since then, Daniel has carved out a place for himself at LG2, which feels like home and where his colleagues are like family. No wonder he’s always singing around the office.
LG2 would like to thank Cantook Micro Torréfaction, Jalisco Tacos & Drinks and Université Laval’s Ligue universitaire d’improvisation for generously hosting our Peek series.
Photographs by Florence Thouin and Alexandra Quinn.
Daniel Martinez-Mendoza, Motion Designer
