Meet Adrian Gamboa | Art Director & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adrian Gamboa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adrian, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Ever since childhood, I was always curious about making things. In grade school, I often had the best projects for art, science, etcetera. When I reached college, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to major in, but I chose a business marketing major, thinking that it would at least allow me to be flexible in my options post-graduation. During my time studying and being in school, I was heavily involved in creative things like music, making t-shirts, learning Photoshop, and design as a whole. There were so many skills that I picked up outside of school that have become highly relevant in my professional career that I had no idea would be as important as they were back then, when the focus was just being creative and having fun. I honestly didn’t ever think a creative career was a possibility. I kind of fell into it by accident and out of habit as a creative person. Most of my family was in the medical field, and I felt pressure to take that route as well, but I knew that I would dislike it because of the lack of fulfillment I thought I would feel in comparison to being creative and making things. Through friends and connections I made while in college and the experiences and learning I did on my own for many years, I was able to work as a designer for my first job out of college. At the same time, I was doing a lot of outside work, creating posters, cover art for music, and creating marketing assets for businesses outside of my day job. All of that experience added up and landed me where I’m at now. A friend of mine who actually went to school for design recently joked that I taught myself into a career, and I guess that is mostly true. Creativity has always been at the forefront of what fills my cup as my life’s sense of purpose, so I suppose that is why I chose to pursue a creative career.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve reached my current position through persistence in learning and self-improvement. Not having an ego and being open to new ideas is crucial as a creative. Socializing and networking opened doors for me, leading to my first job out of college, but it required significant self-study and practice. That’s where preparation and timing creates luck I suppose. My first job was challenging, especially adapting to a corporate environment and dealing with a toxic coworker. It was a nightmare situation with this person, but I quickly learned to navigate different personalities and apply my knowledge to my work. Despite being inexperienced in print design and production, I mastered it swiftly. Eventually, I led large-scale marketing campaigns, which I’m most proud of because of the nature in which I started and where I ended up before I left that company. Overcoming that first job experience was a big achievement along with so many of the other projects I’ve had the opportunity to handle on my own time including doing work for brands/ people like: Wu-Tang Clan, Will.I.Am, Mario, Universal Music Group, Death Row Records and Live Nation to name a few. It’s been a rewarding experience to constantly dedicate time to learning proactively and continue to grow as a creative.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I don’t know if I can come up with an itinerary exactly, because I am a bit impulsive, but these are some of my favorite spots:

Eat: The Hat, Brio Italian Restaurant, Heroes Restaurant & Brewhouse, Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, Any Sushi spot with good ratings and all you can eat

Drink: Hamilton’s Family Brewery, literally any bar/pub,

Visit/Hang Out: Local golf courses like Hidden Valley GC, Jurupa Hills, Eagle Glen, Top Golf, Los Angeles Rooftops, Art Museums

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Beyond the support and positivity of my immediate family and childhood friends, I’ve been fortunate to meet many talented individuals over the years who have influenced my creative development:

– Daniel Martinez: A close friend and talented designer, tuned in to culture and people, always providing valuable insight.
– Sterling Hampton: A skilled director and filmmaker, known since high school, who has toured with major music artists and won awards at prestigious film festivals like Sundance.
– Pablo Cruz: A creative designer with an impeccable taste for making creative decisions, known since college.
– John Orta: A college friend who is a killer DJ and has built a successful career in experiential marketing, currently working for the Sphere in Las Vegas.
– Nuri Freeman: A versatile entrepreneur and musician, excelling in drumming, DJing, guitar building, real estate, and various businesses, including opening a coffee shop overseas.
– Brennan Lyell: A supportive friend from college, now managing music venues in Los Angeles with LiveNation, who played a key role during my musical exploration.

Each of these individuals has significantly contributed to my growth as a creative person.

Website: https://jadriangamboa.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agnotforsale/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jadriangamboa/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/J.AdrianGamboa/