Meet Lucille Moon-Michel, Ph.D.

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lucille Moon-Michel, Ph.D.. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lucille, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I haven’t overcome imposter syndrome. But I’ve learned how to keep it under control. I realized that my own self-doubt had caused me to miss out on a lot of opportunities over the years – which is so frustrating! It was extremely difficult to get started with anything because I always felt the need to do more research, get more experience, wait til the right time, etc. And these insecurities just led me on a backwards odyssey to find a “good enough” state that never existed.

Here are some things that have helped me:

• Worrying about things that are out of my control is a waste of time.
• Overthinking is a form of procrastination.
• Instead of aiming for perfection, embrace my progress and take lessons from mistakes.

And while it’s important to be optimistic and open to taking risks, it’s also vital to maintain humility and be realistic with your goals.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I run 80 Mode LLC, a creative studio that specializes in custom art and animation for the fantasy and romance fiction genres. We work directly with the authors in an iterative and collaborative process to bring their book characters to life and design promotional content for their books. Every project is meticulously crafted through a blend of design expertise, professional multimedia tools, and cutting-edge AI software to create a compelling storytelling experience for viewers.

One of the most rewarding parts of my work is helping authors see their long-imagined characters fully realized. It’s thrilling to get their vision just right, and even more exciting to see readers fall for their characters as well. And I absolutely love it when I see their followers engaging with the work and getting pumped to read their books. The comments can get pretty crazy with the book boyfriends. 😉

What sets 80 Mode apart is a focus on originality and ethical practices. I don’t take commissions for fan art or work based on copyrighted material. Instead, I partner directly with authors to design content that supports and enhances their original stories. Even the sample reels I share on social media feature characters and contexts I’ve developed myself to demonstrate what’s possible.



I’m also transparent about how I use AI tools in my process, and I never use the likeness of real people without permission. My goal is to generate excitement around the worlds these authors have worked so hard to create, while staying honest, respectful, and true to their vision.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Visual storytelling – I’m an avid reader of books in the fantasy and romance genres, so I have a strong understanding of the reader’s perspective. My background in fine art and multimedia design facilitates my ability to convert a mood or scene into a captivating visual that emotionally connects with readers.

2. Instructional design & communication – I earned a Ph.D. in instructional design and spent over a decade teaching design-related courses at the university level. That experience taught me how to make complex ideas approachable and to collaborate effectively with people of all experience levels.

3. Adaptability – The creative tech landscape is constantly evolving. I stay open to change, experiment with new tools, and keep refining my process to improve efficiency and stay relevant.



Advice:
Start before you feel ready. Curiosity will take you further than confidence alone. Stay true to your values, and never stop learning.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Absolutely! While I mostly work with fantasy and romance authors, I’m always open to creative collaborations with writers from other genres, bookish brands, or companies. You can contact me at 80modeai.com/contact or find me on Instagram at @80mode. Let’s design your dream!