Steven Barrera was born in Kingsville Texas and raised 6 miles up the road in an old farmhouse outside of Bishop.  Steven was raised by his two parents, also born and raised in the area. His father was a reserved, disciplined Vietnam Veteran. His Mother, a free-spirited wild child with an imagination as big as her grit. Growing up in rural poverty, they did their best to raise two children that were both gifted. His older sister Orianna has a work ethic, book smarts and drive that was unrivaled in the small town. Steven was blessed with his mother’s imagination, wild spirit, and unique view of the world. Though he was never drawn to art or creating at that time, it was known to all that he was made a little differently. 

Through the years, teachers and parents were at a loss at what to do with him.  One of the smartest kids, but had no ability to focus on anything productive. Writing was where his imagination would be released, but an inability to sit and do things for long periods of time hindered his growth. 

After graduating from Bishop High School, Steven spent 5 years in college. He went from Texas A&M Kingsville to Blinn College, then back to TAMUK and then finally ending at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi. The reason for the final move is a story for another time. Steven went from majoring in computer science, to education, to interdisciplinary studies, to communications, to journalism, back to communications and finally landing on English. 
 

During this time, Steven was diagnosed with ADD, unfortunately, his parents, not understanding the severity of his diagnoses, ignored this information.Steven began to self medicate. The struggles of dealing with school, work, parent’s divorce,and death of several people close to him only helped send him down a spiral of alcohol and drug abuse.  

For the next decade, Steven would spend his time working in a library during the day and being drunk at night.  One of these nights, Steven, being extremely tech and computer savvy, downloaded a pirated copy of Photoshop and this began his creative journey into digital and graphic design.  Not realizing this was a creative option, he found a positive outlet for his creativity. 

In 2008, Steven was at the peak of his alcoholism and drug abuse, and in the span of 2 months totaled two of his cars and ended up in jail both times. The second car accident should have killed him, but he felt that the mercy of the universe spared him and all others that day.  That was the last day Steven was ever drunk. 

The next 15 years were spent getting clean, changing his life and working as a librarian.  He obtained his Masters of Library Science in 2010 and worked with an academic library until 2015.  

In 2015, Steven got a job with the San Antonio Public Library as a Teen Librarian. Steven became further surrounded by arts and crafts, having to set up programs weekly. After a few years as a teen librarian, he became an adult services librarian and began programming for adults. In his time with the public library, Steven organized The Mission City Film Festival, Low-Brary Car Show, Alamo City Soul Block Party and Concrete Canvas Street Art Festival. 
The final program of Steven’s career, Concrete Canvas, was a celebration of street art and culture. It featured a DJ, breakdancers, a muralist and a nationally known rapper.  The love for art was being expressed in his programming. 

In 2023, Steven ended his library career and started selling his graphic designs online and at markets. He has grown as an artist, finally able to express himself fully without feeling the need to fit into a mold. The abrupt ending of his library career and his discovery of graphic design inspired the start of Gacho Bad Designs. Gacho Bad Design’s mission is to unite the community through art and cultural apparel that fosters thought and joy with a dash of humor.  The company slogan? “When life gives you Micho. Make Mi Chorizo.”