Black Belt Agency

What are some of your earliest creative memories and what lead you into design?

My first influential design project was convincing my mother not to go sky-diving when I was eight. I made an illustration of her sky-diving, and me VERY sad, on the ground, exclaiming “Mom, no!” She saw it, changed her mind, and didn’t sky-dive. I realized the power of design, and obviously saved my mothers life! My earliest creative work though, started as deviant behavior, in the school classroom - drawing on desks, not listening to lectures, while doodling in the margins. I was often scolded “Aaron, this is not an art class!” - in such a way as to belittle art class. I kept on doodling though! I still am. I made the decision long ago that everything is an art class. So next time a teacher/boss/sassy mom says to you “this is not an art class” you can respond with “my life is a work of art, let me live my life!” It’ll work out just fine. I promise. It may take a couple decades, but they will understand in time.

Where did you study and what were some of your first jobs?

I studied at Portland State University, and feel very fortunate to have found such a fantastically connected program with such attentive faculty. I had such a fabulous time in the design program there that I often fantasize about registering as a freshman again. My first jobs were the typical family-friend-favor gigs. Which were not rewarding or empowering. So I made my own luck and started looking for an ACTUAL design gig with the word “designer” in the job title. Finding the perfect mix of empowering/challenging in a design studio can take a few years. Many places are actually disempowering to designers, and I feel blessed to have been able to work at these sort of places to discover what I DON’T want in a workplace. I started out on-campus as a student designer, then moved into a real-deal design + communication studio, with a focus on advertising. I cut my teeth, got put under pressure, was asked to do more than I knew how to do, and grew! Over 18 months I was exposed to a fabulous level of professionalism and craft. Then I decided to make some more luck for myself and focused on a larger firm, and worked for a year in an advertising design studio. After that, I decided it was time to be independent, and have been for the past 4.5 years! Now I can make my own rainbows, and invoice people for them!

What does a typical working day include for you right now?

Arise from bed like a jolt of lightning has just struck my face.

Start a Snapchat story about what is happening that day. Hydrate. Wiggle/dance in the mirror. Walk 7 blocks to my design studio, through leafy NW Portland. Try to pick up my red dog’s fresh poop, while she chases a squirrel. Arrive at my coffee shop with a fist full of high fives and giggles. Spend 5-10 minutes sipping a fresh Cortado outside, surveying NW 13th Avenue with my beady eyes. Descend into my basement studio, make a list, and start clicking my mouse. Look at internet. Get moved. Click my mouse. Make some art. Put fresh batteries in my mouse. Work till 8pm. Dance my way home. Watch a nature documentary. Cuddle with my red dog.  Get unconscious.

Whats your take on internships? (do you take interns now?)

Interns are very special people. I feel at my best when I am empowering creativity in others, and a good intern allows that to happen. Internships can be fabulously rewarding for both parties. I feel fortunate to currently have a sassy, no B.S. intern from Portland State University, on her 2nd 90-day session with my studio. If an intern leaves my studio empowered, confident, and ready to shake up the local industry, I feel like I have done my job.  And yes, my studio takes interns currently. And we even pay! In actual US currency! You, too, can come make rainbows and crystals in a studio filled with rainbows and crystals.