Today we’d like to introduce you to Samy Ventura.
Hi Samy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Well, it all began in the ’90s in a small desert town outside of Joshua tree called Wonder Valley. There are maybe a little over 600 people living out there. The desert hasn’t always been this Instagramable fun destination it is now. I used to dream about growing up in the city, but I know that would not have made me half as interesting and creative as I am today. The sand and heat really create a different kind of character. Growing up as an only child in the middle of nowhere, I had to create my own fun activities to pass the time. A major outlet for me was art and creating things out of nothing. I was recently cleaning out some storage boxes at my father’s house and found a lot of art pieces from when I was young. Everything had its own odd purpose. The creations were a mix of greeting cards, pattern making, and posters. There were random art pieces thrown in, but most of it was graphic and communication-focused. I found it funny that my drive to be a graphic artist has always been present. Thankfully I was able to carry this passion into adulthood and go to school for Graphic Design. Throughout my design journey, I have had the privilege to work with all kinds of brands! From start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, I’ve had the opportunity to see my work in small-town coffee shops all the way to a global retail stores.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If it had been a smooth road, I probably wouldn’t be here interviewing. Smooth roads are seldom an interesting story. There have been a good amount of bumps along the way, but I’ve always been lucky to find the silver linings in them. One of the biggest turning points for me was when I was let go from my second design job. I’ll be honest, it hurt like none other; it was a time when anything that could go wrong did go wrong. Looking back at that time now, all I can do is smile. It became the absolute best experience for me. I believe everyone should be let go at least once in their career. You will find out what you’re made of and if your true passions are worth following. I found out that I’m resourceful, determined, and have the best support system in my life. The connections I’ve made at previous jobs have assisted me in creating and growing my career. Utilizing my connections and my connections, I was able to turn my hardship into a defining moment. I went from working at a small start-up no one had heard of to being a part of a major global brand in three months. The ride was insanely wild, but I would do it all over again. Among the many things it taught me, the main takeaway I try to share with anyone willing to listen is to always have a work-life balance. When you are going through the bumps, there will always be enjoyable moments in life to balance the struggles.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Ahhh, the fun part!
I have been a professional Graphic Designer focusing on event, brand, and package design for over a decade-plus. I started my career in branding and packaging and then moved on to event design. With all events closing down in the last two years, I had moved back to brand and packaging. I do love creating immersive experiences that result in life-long memories.
A lot of my professional career has been spent working on various toy brands. Being a big goblin-like kid myself, these experiences have felt thrilling. I have been a part of exciting brands such as Disney Princess and Frozen, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Barbie, super-secret NDA projects, and various small business and design agencies. A lot of these brands and projects were graphically something I never thought I would do since it never felt like my personal styling. I’ve had the chance to create and master glittery backdrops, build out massive fantasy scenes, and work with the most mythical of graphics. The chance to expand my skill set with styles I would never do on my own has been fun! I have grown so much outside of my comfort zone. Creating this detailed and layered artwork forced me to be a master of my craft. As much as I have enjoyed this, I feel I started to lose my sense of style. More and more, I have been a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Wearing a leather jacket while listening to Modest Mouse sing about the struggles of life while creating Disney Princess packaging always felt like such a disconnect to me.
With all outside distractions closing down due to the pandemic, I have been using this time to redefine and create what I wanted my next personal style to be. I have always been inspired by Bauhaus design, the dramatic use of white space, and the clean lines of mid-century modern design. Working in corporate so long, most projects have a similar aesthetic. I am beginning to grow tired of the same old same. I have been craving projects that don’t need to have a marketing plan or input from anyone. I needed to start making graphics that I was the client for. I have been craving unhinged creative work. During this time of rediscovering, I have been focusing my extra time on creating posters based on whatever song I have stuck in my head that week. From a graphics perspective, I am focusing on creating graphics that convey the feeling I had while listening to these songs. This is currently what I’m most proud of. These posters mean so much more to me than their beauty; they have been a great outlet to reconnect with the two things I love most: music and graphic design.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Oh, this is hard because I am very much an open book. Ask me and I will probably go on for too long about a topic. The one thing people also get a good confused laugh about is that I played sports as a teenager. Now you can’t get me to leave the house if the sun is involved. On a creative level, I believe Futura is overused in a lot of design work. There are a lot of other great fonts out there that are also deserving of time in the spotlight. That said, I am also an offender, but I’m working on it. (Kinda)
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.samyventura.com
Image Credits
Portrait by Marlania Vinet. All photography used in the artwork are stock imagery. All designs are original.
