We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gabriel Azcarate. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gabriel below.
Gabriel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about one of the craziest things you’ve experienced in your journey so far.
As a Hispanic, my upbringing taught me to always be humble and to keep working on your craft until you achieve success. As a visual communication designer who attended the University of Texas at Arlington, my creative journey began with some ups and downs. As the graphic design industry continues to grow in society, so does the competition for one another. During my time in university, all art and design students must go through a concentrated portfolio review, in which the administrative department reviews all the design work you have completed in your first 2 years of university. The staff decides whether you meet the qualifications to continue in the program and take upper level design courses. Aside from my design work, my portfolio featured a variety of mediums such as glassblowing, sculpture, painting, and drawing. I felt confident in my work because I was always attentive to small details and thrived on feedback from my peers on areas for improvement. Unfortunately, when I awoke at 8 a.m. on a Monday morning, I received an email informing me that I had failed to meet the requirements for my first attempt to advance in the graphic design program. I scheduled a meeting with the administrative staff, who reviewed my work. I was told that I did not have enough design work and that I should not be taking some of the art classes I had taken in my sophomore year. After reviewing my degree plan with them, we determined that the interim advisor who advised me that year on classes had messed up my degree plan, and I was supposed to take some of the design classes earlier. Although I made another attempt the following semester, one of the professors spoke up in the meeting and said, “Your design work is not quite there and requires a lot of improvement. I would suggest you consider switching majors; design might not be for you.” Leaving the meeting devastated me; it tore me apart because, growing up, art was always something I enjoyed doing and saw myself pursuing as a career. That week, I lost confidence in myself and my artwork. I did not speak or contact anyone; instead, I isolated myself in my room, the blinds closed, in the dark. I never saw myself doing anything else, so I obsessively considered what would happen to me if I did have to change my major. I watched a podcast where Aaron Rodgers was told by a professor that he wasn’t good enough to play professional football and it drove him to pursue the amazing career he has had in the National Football League. I used this podcast as inspiration to keep going in my creative career, despite the comments I received at the administrative meeting. From there on I had up to 5 months to prepare for my second attempt and lock into my craft. I took summer classes and spent sleepless nights working on projects that can display in my portfolio. I asked every person I know for feedback and how I can improve my work, and thanks to them I was able to see my mistakes and limit them on projects I worked on going forward. I submitted my portfolio for review in the fall and received the news that I met the qualifications to move on in the graphic design program. I was relieved by the news but remained silent to tell others because at the time I still felt embarrassed and overcome the upset and grief. I knew I could set my mind to anything I wanted to achieve, I just needed a spark to trigger me to make a better change in myself. From there on I slowly started gaining my confidence back in my work and was able to land job opportunities in internships and freelance work on the side. The staff member that once tore me down ended up helping me in the end of college by connecting me with some internship opportunities, realizing my commitment and dedication I had to not give up when things got difficult. My lesson from this situation is to set your mind to anything you want to achieve. Sometimes things in life aren’t always going to go your way, but you stay humble through the process and control your mindset, work ethic, and the amount of time you spend to put into something.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Gabriel Azcarate, a multimedia visual designer leading the way in the contemporary design movement. I was raised in El Paso, Texas, and at an early age, I became passionate about design. I spent my weekends and summers studying the foundations of art. In high school, I concentrated on graphic design and drew inspiration from Virgil Abloh and Tinker Hatfield. I studied for a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication Design with a concentration in Business Marketing at the University of Texas at Arlington. My work was showcased in the 8th Annual Typography Exhibition’s “The Extraterrestrial Species” publication and “Fight Type” exhibition identity poster. Additionally, I was given the honor of designing UT-Arlington’s 2023 Homecoming. I made the Maverick community “feel” like they were in Hollywood by adding a red carpet, cameras, and bright lights to fit the theme of Hollywood. I started my own personal brand, Azcara Design, in 2023. It includes a selection of my works, including posters, business cards, apparel, and multimedia interactions. Even though I am still very early in my design career, I strive to push the envelope of my creativity in order to give my work meaning.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I’ve been collecting sneakers like Jordans Nike, New Balance, Adidas, etc. since middle school. Attending Pensole Academy, which focuses on clothing and shoe design, would be my ideal educational opportunity. After learning the foundations of graphic design, I hope to pursue my talents in the areas of clothing and footwear design and eventually work for a sportswear company like New Balance, Adidas, or Nike.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Limitless capabilities is the most rewarding aspect of being a multimedia visual designer. I have the option to create anything I envision in my mind and also help others to meet their creative desires. The design process has challenges but once the project is complete it feels rewarding to see the outcomes of the projects I create and the amount of support and positivity I receive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.azcaradesign.com/
- Instagram: azcaradesign
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gazcarate/