Graphic Designer Uses Education To Create Innovative Artwork

You could be managing the next biggest pop artist's music tour, but if there's no advertising strategy with the right types of advertisements in magazines and digital media across the internet, you might find yourself with a less than full music venue. It's the job of graphic designers to bring their clients' concepts to life through innovative artwork that can be used on numerous mediums.

Under his creative design consulting service studio, AB3D Creative, Sacramento Graphic Designer Ryan Colditz has carved a niche for himself combining his passion for music and entertainment with smart and eye-catching graphic designs. Through the art of 3D photography, his concert photography has been compiled into a one-of-a-kind 3D Magazine that truly brings photography to life.

What does your job entail?

"I work with clients in the entertainment and music industry to create innovative artwork for events and promotional use. Recent projects included art direction and graphic design for the 2015 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles as well as 3D concert photography for major label music acts."

What do you enjoy most about your job?

"I work with clients who allow me to be myself when it comes to being creative. By feeling free to express my own style, the client gets more inspired results that resonate with the audience I am designing for. I put myself in the shoes of the viewer and create something that I would enjoy looking at. Being able to make a living by using my creativity is a blessing I am thankful for every day."

What is your education history?

"My first graphic design class at Colfax High School led me to Cal Poly Pomona where I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design. I also did a lot of self-education and experimentation to learn and refine my skills in stereoscopic 3D photography and graphic design. It was a mix of theory and 'learning by doing' that developed the wide range of skills I use in my everyday work."

Do you think your education has helped you in your line of work?

"Yes. A lot of my education was based around projects, so I would learn not only how to create a successful project, but also how to troubleshoot and find solutions when things didn't go as planned. I was taught the rules of art and design which are the cornerstone to being a professional designer. The best thing about knowing the rules is that you then know how to properly break them to create unique work that doesn't look like a cookie-cutter template. That is what clients want."
Any advice for someone seeking a similar career?

1. Love what you do.
2. Work harder than everyone else.
3. Never feel like you've learned it all.

"If you put in the time, dedication and have a passion for what you are doing, whether it is art or any other career, you will succeed and grow. If you don't like what you are doing, look inside yourself for what makes you happy. Then do that. There is ALWAYS time to learn something new."

Paulo Acoba is a California native raised in the Bay Area and living in the Central Valley. He enjoys distance running, cycling and grassroots motorsports. He holds a degree in management from the University of California Merced. Paulo has been writing for Examiner.com since 2012 and covering the Fresno area.