We were lucky to catch up with Rob Rice recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rob, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Every project I create with a client has a profound meaning to them personally. This is why I started my own company. I wanted to work with clients that were small businesses just like myself.

I used to be employed for a creative company in Chicago. Although the company itself was great to work for, the clients were from massive advertisement agencies and there was no personal interaction on a project. I knew I had to change that aspect, when the time was right, to be fulfilled in my work.

There is an unwritten understanding when you work with a small business that every dollar counts, your word is your bond, and every project is important to the very survival of their company. I enjoy those high stakes because everyone is invested in the project to get it just right.

Graphic Design has been the gateway service into many local businesses I have helped. I make sure to understand what the company does, but also why they created the company and how they help their clients. These details then guide my choices on design to get just the right look for the company albeit with print media or digital graphics. I had a coaching client who came to me and was very nervous to start any project because they didn’t know where to begin. I was able to guide them, step by step, through my process and break it down into easy to accomplish goals. By the end of the project, they had a perfect logo they felt proud to put on all of their company marketing.

Animation can be a very powerful tool for a client’s company. I specialize in animated introduction and explanation videos for businesses. These can be great fun for a business, but they can also serve a very important function. My client was a chiropractor and many of their potential clients had never gone to a chiropractor before. These “not yet” clients had a fear of injury if they went to a chiropractor. I took this problem and created an animated video that addressed this issue by highlighting their experience if they became a client of the chiropractor. This eased the fears of these potential clients and they specifically mentioned that the video is why they signed on to the chiropractor’s services.

Illustration has been the backbone of my entire business. I thoroughly enjoy creating characters and environments that capture the essence of the story or information written. One such project was entitled “The Machine Inside Me” by Michelle Steffes. The author was looking for a way to capture children’s attention so they could learn important information about how their brain processes emotion and how to control their emotions during potentially stressful situations they may encounter. I was able to grasp the nuances of the science and create kid friendly diagrams and characters to enhance the engaging story. It’s been a huge success, but more importantly, it’s changing kid’s lives and the adults’ lives who read the story with them.

Rob, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

To put a point on what I do: I create custom graphics that you cannot find anywhere else.

Whether it be illustrations, animations, or graphic design, I strive to create something never seen before. I live to help my clients engage with their audience in the way they see fit.

I could tell you that I went to college for Media Arts and Animation in Chicago, and I’ve been in a creative profession for over fifteen years now. However, I really prefer to let my clients and my work speak for themselves.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

How badly do I want this career? I lost my dominant right hand in an accident in 2017. I taught myself how to create art with my left hand and now I have surpassed the quality of art I did with my right hand. Nothing slows me down!

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

When I started my own business, I never understood the power of networking. This one exercise, practiced weekly, has transformed my business from a lowly startup to a thriving business. People talk, and if they don’t know you exist, they can’t talk about you. You have to get out there, shake some hands and be seen to make it in a local small business economy.

Business Networking International (BNI) was a main factor in realizing how powerful networking really is. Small businesses helping other small businesses makes the world go round.    

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.robriceillustrations.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robriceillustrations/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robriceillustrations
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robriceillustrations/