Portfolio

My name is Zachary Diaz. I am a visual artist and graphic designer based in Baltimore, MD. I began designing out of necessity. While an undergraduate in college, I needed a logo and website for my artwork. After showcasing my work, I began accepting projects to grow in my creative capacity. By infusing my knowledge of color, composition, and balance as a visual artist with design programs and principles, I bring a unique perspective to the projects I work on.

I am passionate about collaboration and learning to incorporate multiple skills and techniques. With a curious mind and strategic planning, I have worked individually and within teams to create impactful visual experiences and solutions.

I have experience working in branding, typography, icon design, webpage and instructional design layouts, illustration, animation, and video editing for political campaigns and initiatives, college academic and athletic departments, the US Government, and small businesses. I continuously seek out opportunities to challenge my knowledge and creativity to positively contribute and elevate the organizations and individuals I work with.

Let's talk!

Program Used:
Adobe Illustrator

Logo Design

Graphic Design: Print + Digital | The University of South Carolina Student Life

Programs Used:
Adobe Illustrator + InDesign + Photoshop

As a graphic designer for the University of South Carolina Student Life, my role involved creating graphics that quickly caught the attention of busy students walking by to inform them of upcoming programs and events. I frequently met with program coordinators to discuss promotional needs, ideas, imagery, and target audiences. Through Student Life I have designed logos, posters, screen displays, postcards, email and web graphics, brochures, banners, merchandise, and more.
Below is a collection of various graphics I created during my employment.

Strategic Visual Solutions

One of the obstacles of designing for large educational institutions is capturing attention for events. Universities continuously attempt to educate their students on various opportunities. However, the size of the student body and that of the campus create a congested environment making promoting any event difficult. Through researching design trends, utilizing the university's secondary color palette, and targeting specific buildings on campus we were able to increase enrollment using fun, colorful, and engaging designs.

Branding - MOMENTUM | The University of South Carolina Student Life

Programs Used:
Adobe Illustrator + Photoshop

Momentum is a continuous series encouraging dialogue with well-known figures on relevant topics seeking to make a positive impact. I created the logo, branding, and promotional items for this program.
Working directly with program coordinators, I developed
a system for the designs that can be easily customized for each speaker and topic. Since many designs for Momentum were projected onto TV monitor slideshows around USC's campus, the simple placement of text and large imagery was chosen to quickly capture attention.

Brochure Design | The University of South Carolina Student Life

Programs Used:
Adobe Illustrator + InDesign + Photoshop

Right & Below: Booklet design for The 2018 Student Leadership & Diversity Conference at The University of South Carolina.

*Download Full Booklet Here

Left & Below: A brochure designed for the Leadership & Service Center at The University of South Carolina.

*Download Brochure Here

Illustrations

My very first illustration project was a children's alphabet book using pencil, paper, and makers to create characters and scenes. The first time I used a Wacom tablet, my eyes were opened to new possibilities! I explored various programs like Procreate, Photoshop, and Illustrator, learning layers and textures to create visually captivating images. Now, with my knowledge of After Effects I am able to push my designs further.

Digital Painting/Illustration | The University of South Carolina Gamecock Football

Programs Used:
Adobe Illustrator + Photoshop

As a graphic artist for the University of South Carolina Gamecock Football Recruitment, I create digital illustrations of current players, interested recruits, and coaching staff for the New & Creative Media department. My work for the Gamecocks allows me to combine my experience as a fine artist with modern day graphic design tools. I implement color theory, compositional understanding, and new technologies to serve the greater vision of the department. The images below are a small collection of over 80 characters I created using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

To begin, I sketch each face and environment in, then build layers of texture, shading, and detail. Once a full character and atmosphere is completed, I create additional layers that allow me to change hair, skin tone, jersey color and number, as well as alterations to the environment. What's left is a set of illustrations that can be tailored to each potential recruit.