Hey everyone, how’s it going?!
First, allow me to introduce myself.
Nice to meet you — my name is Álvaro, and as you probably guessed from the title, I’m the Production Designer here at the company, hehe.
I’m here today to tell you a little bit about myself and how I became part of this amazing company.
From now on, I’ll also be bringing you cool content about design, the geek world, pop culture news, technology, and more!
I’m 23 years old, currently studying Systems Analysis and Development at IFTM, and I’m a certified technician in Computer Maintenance and Support.
I’ve completed several professional courses in this area, and I even spent a few years studying Civil Engineering (but coding is truly my passion, haha).
I’m a huge fan of comic books, a DC fanboy (yes, don’t judge me because of Justice League, that was a slip-up 😅), I love anime, drawing, art, music, and I’m crazy about rock ‘n’ roll (especially from the 80s and 90s).
I also love playing video games, soccer (even though my team hasn’t given me much joy lately 😅), and traveling.
The Beginning of My Journey
I’ve been working here at Nerd Stickers for almost two years now, as a production designer.
You might be wondering: “Wait, didn’t he say earlier he doesn’t have a degree in Design?”
Exactly — I don’t.
But I do have several courses in the field, years of freelance experience, and I also study design elements as part of my current academic path, which is why I was assigned this amazing role at this fantastic sticker factory.
Maybe you’re also wondering:
“Oh my God, but if you’re into programming, how did you end up as a production designer?”
Well, to explain that, we have to go back in time a little bit.
Since I was a kid, I loved drawing, creating characters, and inventing stories.
When I wasn’t in school, I would spend entire afternoons watching cartoons and anime — fascinated by those worlds.
Maybe that’s what pushed me towards studying design.
But what about programming? Hold on, we’re getting there.
As I got older, I became more curious about electronics.
I loved messing around with the stereo, tweaking DVD player settings, changing TV configurations, and customizing my Nokia A50, hahaha.
That led to the inevitable need for a PC — to explore the world of computers and games.
At around 13 years old, I fell in love with the internet and the magic a computer could offer.
By 15, I enrolled in IFTM to study IT alongside high school, and that’s when I had my first contact with programming.
Now, you might be thinking:
“Ah, that’s when he fell in love with coding!”
But nope — at first, I hated programming and barely passed the subject.
Doesn’t make sense, right?
Well, a few years later, when I was studying Civil Engineering, I realized programming was the subject I loved the most.
And that’s how my journey shifted to where I am today.
So, What Exactly Does a Production Designer Do Here?
Now that you know a bit of my story, you might still have that lingering question:
“Okay Álvaro, but what does a production designer actually do?”
Let’s start with a basic question:
What is Design?
According to Robin Mathew, “Design is where science and art break even.”
According to Steve Jobs, “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”
There’s no single definition, but we can simplify it with a few keywords: usefulness, aesthetics, projects, people, problems, and solutions.
Doing design means applying these principles to solve someone’s problem with a solution that’s simple, attractive, and functional — considering everything from the target audience to sociocultural factors.
How Is Design Applied Inside Nerd Stickers? What Do I Do Here?
Here at Nerd Stickers, we function as a filter of information, carefully considering customer feedback — both suggestions and complaints — to deliver the best possible service.
As a Production Designer, my main tasks are:
- Receiving the customer’s file
- Analyzing whether it’s ready for production
- Alerting the customer if there are issues (and fixing them when possible)
- Assembling the final file and print layout so the stickers can be produced
Besides that, I also:
- Create graphic elements for the website
- Design templates and mockups for personalized stickers or skins
These are my main responsibilities as a production designer here.
I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about my work!
Make sure to leave a like, comment below, and ask your questions — we’ll answer them with great care. 😄
See you next time! Thanks, everyone!
#StickWithUs
