Today we’d like to introduce you to Kai Diaz.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was always the kid that would take things apart and wonder why the maker made it that way… “Why didn’t they do it this way?” I would question… I didn’t grow up wealthy, so every turn of my path was something I dug out for myself, instead of being guided to it. I believed in creating my own opportunities if they weren’t coming to me.
I couldn’t afford school, so I trained myself in learning how to be a designer. I worked at Vapor Studio, a design studio in coastal Encinitas California, for six years. It was a vital time of my career as I learned so much that I probably wouldn’t have learned in school. Now, I am a freelance designer based out of Solana Beach and a part owner of Ironsmith Coffee Roasters.
Please tell us about your art.
I love all types of art. Any kind of medium. Although, I wanted to go into product/industrial design, I started veering towards graphic design. I love the challenge of telling a story through visual design. This led me to Brand Design. I love creating a system, not just a logo identity, but a whole system of graphic elements that play with each other to tell a brand’s unique story.
As I got deeper into the world of design, it also awakened another passion… photography. Ever since my high school days, I was always the kid that was documenting everything. I guess I just wanted to have something to remember valuable moments. I would take photos, video, notes, etc… As a design nerd, I always had a sense of composition, and how I wanted something to look, so it helped with my dive into the new world of photography. I’ve been shooting for Ironsmith Coffee, my travel journals, and misc. photo assignments for select brands.
I currently have a photo gallery in Ironsmith Coffee titled “I left my heart in Ethiopia”I love how I’m able to use design and photography hand in hand… they help each other. The message of my works is really quite simple and probably why some artists do what they do… it has less to do with being technical, but has more to do with extracting an emotion from my audience. I want us to feel something when we look or experience my works.
As a visual storyteller, my message is to open our minds and spirit to the outside of your “norm”. I hope to inspire others to just go for it… We are but a blip in time… make it count… if you want it bad enough, the universe will provide.
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
I define success as achieving a sense of feeling good about what I do, why I do it, who I do it with, when I want to do it. I feel success when I watch people view my works and I can tell they are feeling something. When I get emotions from my audience that is deeper than the surface level.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I’m available for design needs, and can be reached at kaicreativeco.com. Support for my photo work can be done by visiting the current photo gallery at Ironsmith Coffee. There I have a handful of large prints for sale from the “I left my heart in Ethiopia” series.
Contact Info:
- Website: kaicreativeco.com
- Email: hello@kaidiaz.com
- Instagram: @kaidiaz
Image Credit:
Photos and graphic design are all by me: Kai Diaz
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