We recently connected with Rastin Zarei and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Rastin, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
As an artist and a creative director, bouncing back from any kind of setbacks, criticism, and challenges is one of the mind powers that any artist should have and work on. Its the power of controlling emotions, not to distract the focus of any artist mind, so we can get to the finish line of any goals in our career.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Rastin zarei and I am a creative director, and branding specialist for over 15 years working with various brands and clients, based in Los Angeles, Ca. As a kid I have always acknowledged art in iconography, logo types, branding, music and performing. Born in tehran, Iran, and growing up in Europe, I have always appreciate advertising and how a simple ad in any form can changes someones minds or act, by having a strong message in the ad.
Without any experience, I started to do production work for an ad agency in Sweden, who were focused in store design signage and visuals for signage. I took my first photoshop class and, then i knew I would be a good artist, because i was loving the concept. years after I decided to move to Los Angeles, Ca and pursue college degree in graphic design and hopefully to start my career in the US, ” The land of opportunity”. I moved to los Angeles with one of my best friends and attended santa monica college in February 2000. I had to learn the english fast, so i got a extra job working in a restaurant and that helped me connect with costumers and make my english better and fluent. 2 years after I attended university and got my BA in Arts and Advertising in 2006. I started to work for Guess Inc as a graphic designer in the headquarter in Los Angeles and learned a lot about printing , magazine advertising and production design. moved back to sweden and got a contact job at H&M in 2007 and that was also a great experience for my learning about digital, website, e-commerce and affiliate marketing.
I moved back to LA and 2008 and 2009 was not a good scene because of the economy crash/ depression where I didnt have any job, but that was also a good example of me not giving up hope and bounce back to get focused to move on. in 2010 I got a senior designer /art director role at a company called venue who were specializing in
e-commerce and digital platform. At the same time I got the opportunity to work with other clients in various businesses and grow as a contractor and freelancer. I opened my design studio in 2017 and built my client list which was not easy but “nothing is easy in life anyways” My studio is called G4Design Studios and since then I have had the opportunity to work with some of the big brands like: Wester Digital, TruConnect, Nike, American Idol, and more.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Strategic Thinking: As a creative director you must be able to understand the broader business goals and objectives of any project and align the creative vision with those goals. This involves thinking strategically about how the creative work will contribute to the overall success of the brand or campaign.
Creative Leadership: Creative directors often lead teams of creative professionals, such as designers, copywriters, and art directors. A strong leadership skills to inspire and motivate teams, provide guidance and feedback, and ensure that the creative work meets high standards of quality.
Industry Knowledge: A solid understanding of the creative industry, including trends, technologies, and best practices, is essential for a creative director. This knowledge allows them to make informed decisions, stay ahead of the curve, and deliver innovative and effective creative work.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful my parent did for me was supporting me through my journey and job selection. before moving to the US, I was working with my father for the family business and after some years working, I decided that I wanted to do something different and with my father we decided to sell the business so I can move on and he was totally supporting my choice and idea, so I can follow my dreams.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://g4design.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g4dezign
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/g4design-studio-los-angeles
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
