Check Out Adam Garcia’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Garcia

Hi Adam, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My creative journey all started when I was old enough to hold a pencil. I could entertain myself for hours drawing everything from my surroundings to my favorite super heroes. Even in school, filling the sides of my homework with sketches of monsters attacking cities, or my favorite characters from cartoons.

As I got older, all my free time was dedicated to honing my art skills. I was always encouraged by family and teachers to enter my work in local contests and galleries. I was lucky enough to have my art featured in the Arizona State Fair and shown in Shemer Art Center and Tempe Public Library, all before I hit my 13th birthday.

As I entered my sophomore year of high school, my art and Design teacher Steve Adams invited a local trade school (The Art Institute of Phoenix) come and speak and educate students on future careers. I fell in love with the possibilities and I immediately signed up for a week long summer program to learn more about what art related careers were out there. My family has always been the most important thing to me so entering a career where I can still live in the same state was crucial. Enter graphic design.

For the next three years I worked full time doing jobs as a Kmart layaway manager, medical records clerk, a commercial roofer and personal assistant to help be able to pay for an expensive art college. I would work all day, drive 28 miles one way, attend classes from 6-10, drive home and try to not stay up all night doing homework. Only to wake up and do it all over again. I was never a fan of school growing up, I was barely getting by in high school with a C average, but in college everything was so engaging and I was determined to be the best of my class. I found that since I was in love with the subject matter it was easy to excel and stay almost the entirety of my time there on the deans list. Little did I also know that I would meet my future wife sitting next to me in my production 101 class.

Three years flew by and at the end of my stay at the Art Institute I left with not only the best portfolio award but also the teachers choice award. At my portfolio show several companies attended and I had three interviews set up before the day was over.

For the next 12 years I worked in several different design industries. I started in user interface design helping students with learning software. I then worked in my first marketing agency and had numerous b2b clientele. A big leap then came when I became the Senior Designer for P.F. Chang’s. I was lucky enough to be doing national and global work on a daily basis that was seen by so many here and around the world. Also being onsite with a testing kitchen was a tasty perk.

I could have stayed at P.F. Chang’s for a long time, I loved my boss and the things I got to work on were a dream. Deep down inside I felt like a part of me wasn’t pushing myself hard enough. I felt that I was resting on my laurels and getting by on what I was best at and accepting that was all I could be.

Not having a ton of experience, I started applying for jobs that I wasn’t qualified for. I wanted to be at a growing advertising agency and more importantly, be an art director. I wanted more, I wanted to show my peers and family that I was more than the kid who grew up scribbling doodles on his homework.

After several interviews, I accepted a job as an art director for the new and upcoming full service agency O.H. Partners. At O.H. I unlocked new passions and skills I didn’t know I had. I was surrounded by such talented people who cared so much about all the work we were doing. I didn’t care that I was working 60 hour weeks, I was being creative on levels I never thought possible. Within two or three months I was even promoted to Senior Art Director with direct reports. For the next 6 and a half years, I helped create countless campaigns, TV ads, non traditional executions for clients like the Arizona Lottery, The Coyotes, Valley Metro, Offerpad, AZDHS, The PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, Flowerchild and more. During all this time I was blessed to receive so many awards for my work. Three Emmy’s, 30+ Addy awards from gold to bronze, Telly awards and even a NASPL batchy award.

After my time with O.H., I went national and landed an Associate Creative Director role with Publicis Groupe under the agency Hawkeye. I worked on huge clients like USAA and Wingstop. I learned so much from being in a leadership role at such a prestigious level.

As time went on my focus on wanting to help and guide others in their careers became more and more evident. I no longer had this burning desire to create, I wanted to help others bring their visions to life and learn how to do their best work. I now am working as the creative services manager at Tivity Health where I lead a team of five as we create materials to help people of all ages find the best ways to stay healthy longer. I do this all with the love of my Erin and my three pugs at my side.

When I look back at the career I had, I’m often reminded that I would not be here without the love and guidance of my parents Carlos and Maria Garcia, sisters Arye and Danyella. They pushed me to be true to myself and gave me the inspiration to never settle.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My career and life have not always been smooth. I found the hardest part of my career path is when I got too comfortable with the status quo and too comfortable with who I was. I stayed at the same place and same role for almost nine years. I let the easiness and predictability control everything.

I am so lucky that I have the most amazing people around me that gave me confidence to not only grow in my career but also grow as a person. Knowing that they would always love me and respect me no matter what I was doing. The fancy awards never amounted to anything if I didn’t have them to share it with.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My background is in graphic design. My passion for everything graphics, illustration and typography will always be my true love. I think what I’m most known for are my out of the box thinking, whether its a logo design or a pitch for a commercial, the level of polish I can bring to a project is something I’m very proud of.

Something that also sets me apart from others is that while I had my design and creative career going on, I also started and help run a local street wear brand called Strange Magic. We produced several different lines, worked with local artists and I did it all with friend Scotty Cummings. We did this to help bring our community closer together while doing the things we loved.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I’m always looking for new opportunities and new partners to help them bring the best creative visions alive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.adamgarcia.co
• Instagram: Adammgarcia