Meet Byron Stanford | Creative Director and Artist

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

Hi Byron, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Art and design were my hobby while I was in highschool and college. While graduating in International Business I would do design jobs on the side to make money. By the time I was done with my sophomore year it was clear to me that I had no interest in pursuing business, as being a creative was what clearly made me happy. By the end of college I had built a portfolio and decided to go for it and pursue a creative career, applying and getting accepted at one of the top advertising industries in the world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For me, my art has always been about experimentation and learning. I like diving into new mediums and techniques, which challenges my style and expression.

There can be anxiety when trying something new, but there’s also a freedom to play and experiment. I think the hardest lesson I continue to try to learn is to let go of expectations, let go of our learned perfectionism, and just create for the joy of creating.

I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t allowed myself the opportunity to be bad at things, to try something new and see where it leads. A practice that lead to what I consider my biggest accomplishments so far, my art being displayed in Times Square and at Beeple Studios.

Building a business as a creative can be challenging. I really struggled finding the balance between doing the work and working on the business. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is to be grateful for your clients. Treat them with respect and truly try to bring your best to the work. They are believing in you and granting you the privilege of working doing what you love. It is a gift.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love going to walk around in RiNo and check out all the amazing wall art. And it also has some great spots for a drink or food. As someone who grew up in Spain I usually miss Spanish tapas, Barcelona wine bar has some of the most authentic Spanish tapas I’ve had, so I’ll usually go there to enjoy a taste of home.

Meow Wolf is also a must for anyone visiting Denver. And if we’re in season I always love hitting the slopes with fiends.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to dedicate my shoutout to the motion graphics community. Throughout my years I’ve been very lucky of having mentors and friends who have encouraged or inspired me along the way.

However, when I was still early on in my career in graphic design I felt a lack of community from other designers. My interest in animation had me seek out more education and then I stumbled upon the motion graphics community. The first thing that caught my attention was the sense of community around the members, as well as their eagerness to learn, share and teach about their own experiments in the feeld. I was instantly hooked.

It was through the community that I learned the most about what would eventually become the work I enjoy doing, but also how I transitioned from a mindset of being a designer who does creative work for money, to becoming an artist who creates for the need for expression.

Website: https://Www.notjustbsdesign.com

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

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

Twitter: https://x.com/ByronStanford