Rising Stars: Meet Rene Dominguez of Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rene Dominguez.

Rene, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Back in 2004, I was introduced to design through a friend who needed help cropping images for a website. That was my first experience with Photoshop. I had always been creative growing up, painting, doodling, and making collages from magazine clippings, but once I started exploring Photoshop, something clicked. I became obsessed with learning what was possible. I would stay up late teaching myself the tools, experimenting with ideas, and pushing myself creatively.

At the same time, I was working with my father in his home recording studio as a recording engineer. One day, an artist who was recording there needed a flyer designed for an event. Even though I had never designed one before, I confidently told him, “I can do it.” That moment opened an entirely new door for me. It gave me the confidence to pursue creativity as a career.

Working in music also shaped the way I think about design. Music is built in layers: emotion, rhythm, texture, and storytelling. I realized digital art worked the same way. Design wasn’t just about making something look good; it was about creating feeling and connection through layers of intention.

One of the biggest lessons I learned while building Rendom Designs was communication. Learning how to ask the right questions became just as important as the design itself. Understanding a client’s vision, goals, struggles, and pain points allows us to create strategy-driven work instead of simply producing visuals. In today’s world, especially with AI becoming more common, I believe that human understanding and connection matter more than ever.

What motivates me most is seeing clients genuinely excited about the investment they made in themselves and their business. At Rendom Designs, we spend time getting to know our clients, their background, beliefs, and values, because great design should feel aligned with who they are. We never want clients to feel like just another number or transaction. We want them to feel heard, understood, and supported.

Looking back, the advice I would give myself is simple: listen more and stop worrying about whether other designers are better. Success is less about competition and more about human connection. When you align authentically with people, the right opportunities and relationships naturally appear. Stay confident in your skills, stay obsessed with learning, and never lose that curiosity to grow.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not. Like most creative journeys, there were a lot of challenges along the way. One of the biggest struggles was finding clients consistently while also adapting to the constant changes in the design industry. Over the years, I watched the rise of outsourcing, low-cost design services from other countries, do-it-yourself platforms like Canva, and now AI-generated design tools. There was a period where I honestly felt defeated because people would compare my pricing to someone offering design work for a fraction of the cost.

What I eventually realized, though, was that the difference was never just the design itself; it was the experience, strategy, and care behind it. Many clients who chose the cheaper route would eventually come back after realizing they weren’t getting the same level of communication, understanding, or attention to detail. That became a learning lesson for both them and me.
It taught me not to focus on competing with everyone else, but instead to stay true to my values and the way I approach creativity. The right clients will always align with work that feels thoughtful and genuine.

I also learned that what designers do goes much deeper than simply choosing colors or placing text over images. Good design is built on structure, psychology, balance, spacing, color theory, and years of studying visual communication and design history. A lot of those principles are invisible to the average person, but people can feel when a design works. It feels natural, trustworthy, and intentional, even if they can’t immediately explain why.

That understanding helped me stop worrying about trends or competition and focus more on building real human connections and meaningful work.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Rendom Designs, we specialize in web design, branding, graphic design, and creative marketing for small businesses, startups, and growing brands. Our work is centered around helping businesses create a stronger visual presence both online and in the physical world. While design is a major part of what we do, we see ourselves more as problem-solvers than just designers. We focus on understanding where a business currently stands, what challenges they are facing, and how strategy and creativity can work together to help them grow.

Over the years, we’ve become known for creating work that feels personal, intentional, and aligned with the client’s identity rather than relying on generic templates or trends. We spend a lot of time getting to know the people behind the business, their story, values, goals, and even their struggles, because we believe the best design comes from understanding people first.

What I’m most proud of is the trust our clients place in us. Seeing someone genuinely excited about their brand, website, or project after feeling overlooked or uncertain before is incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about delivering something visually appealing; it’s about helping people feel confident in how they present themselves to the world.

What sets us apart is the human connection behind the process. In a time where so much is automated or rushed, we take the time to listen carefully and create work with intention. We combine creativity with strategy, making sure the design not only looks good, but also communicates clearly, builds trust, and supports the client’s long-term goals. I think people can feel when something was created with care, and that’s something we never want to lose.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest, outside of design and serving others, is raising my two boys, who are 4 and 6 years old. Watching them grow, learn, and develop their own personalities is one of the most fulfilling parts of my life. There’s something special about seeing the world through their eyes again. I also love being able to share art and creativity with them, whether it’s drawing, building ideas together, or simply encouraging their imagination. Creativity has always been a huge part of my life, so being able to pass that energy and curiosity down to them means everything to me. At the end of the day, family, connection, and creating meaningful moments are what truly bring me happiness.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rendomdesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rendom_designs/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rendomdesigns
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rendom/

Image Credits
All designed by me