Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Martin Geller of Long Island

We recently had the chance to connect with Martin Geller and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Martin, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I start my day with a cup of coffee and a quick check of messages, comments, and updates related to my Photoshop YouTube channel. It’s a quiet, focused time when I explore new creative tools, test out features, and browse the web for inspiration. I like to see what’s new in Adobe’s world and how I might incorporate it into an upcoming tutorial or art piece. Those first 90 minutes set the tone for my day—they give me the space to experiment, take notes, and map out ideas for my next video or artwork before everything else starts competing for my attention.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
For more than five decades, I’ve devoted my career to the art of visual storytelling—creating designs, illustrations, and animations for clients such as The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, NBC, ABC, CBS, Paramount Television, VH-1, major record labels, national magazines, and leading book publishers, including the “Big Five.” My work also appeared in the acclaimed A24 film Dream Scenario (2023) starring Nicolas Cage, where I received an end-credit acknowledgment.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I can’t pinpoint a single moment that shaped how I see the world, but I vividly remember the one that influenced me most as an artist. In 1970, I attended a slide lecture in Manhattan by Milton Glaser, the co-founder of Push Pin Studios. His presentation completely captivated me—the creativity, intelligence, and originality he brought to graphic design left an indelible mark and continues to inspire my work to this day.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
In the mid-1970s, designing vinyl album covers was every graphic artist’s dream job. I dropped off my portfolio at CBS Records in New York, hoping they’d see potential in my work—but it was rejected. I was crushed at first, but that moment became a turning point. I realized the work I’d shown wasn’t my best, so I challenged myself to create a new piece every week for three months before trying again. When I returned, the effort paid off: I landed freelance work and was even asked to fill in for a designer on vacation. That experience taught me that rejection isn’t failure—it’s often the spark that pushes you to grow.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
There isn’t one specific person who comes to mind, but I’ve always admired people who have power and influence yet remain kind, thoughtful, and grounded. To me, real strength isn’t defined by status or authority—it’s defined by humility and respect. I’m inspired by those who treat everyone with decency, regardless of what they stand to gain, and I’ve never had much patience for arrogance or those who put others down to elevate themselves.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
I’ve had plenty of “tap-dancing to work” days—especially during my time as an artist for Late Night with Conan O’Brien. It was a dream job because I had complete creative freedom. There was nothing more rewarding than hearing a studio audience burst into laughter or applause in real time at something I’d created for the show. That instant feedback reminded me that my work resonated with people—and that feeling never got old.

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