Mark Alvarado is an accomplished graphic designer who graduated from UCLA. His favorite hobby includes archery and has been honing his bow skills for the last five years. Mark’s work in the graphic design field has brought him to many different places nationally and internationally. His commitment to providing quality and artistic work has made him an excellent choice for people wanting to give their startup firm a “cutting edge” marketing design or upgrade the look of an existing business.
Mark Alvarado understands that work-life balance is essential to maintaining a high-quality standard of work. His passion for his work and his hobby stem from his early work ethic and his willingness to help in the community around him. Mark’s enthusiasm has made him a premier graphic design artist.
What was your best/favorite subject in school?
My favorite subject in school is computer science. The challenging thing about computer science is that it was a combination of applying technical knowledge with artistic skills. As much as I admire people that are artistic with paint and canvas, computer artistry is not as simple. Using also requires the same amount of finesse a painter would use, but it also requires some mathematics as an architect using computer-aided drawing (CAD).
What was your first job?
My first job was mowing lawns as a teenager for my neighborhood. From my hard work ethic growing up, I learned the entrepreneurial spirit and also the importance of marketing. As a “landscape professional,”many other teenagers wanted a piece of the market, but my edge was that I advertised using designs and a logo.
Where and how did you first get into the industry you currently work in?
I have since moved on from mowing lawns to other ventures, but it was through basic marketing that I saw how graphic design was paramount for those wanting an advantage in any market. I was also an avid gamer! Seeing how people would design games and make money blew me away. I applied and got accepted to UCLA to sharpen my skills as a dedicated graphic design artist. At first, I started looking at small businesses offering my services to them. Eventually, I worked with a team of graphic designers, and our clientele grew. I decided to start my graphic designer because of the opportunity of expanding globally.
How have those jobs prepared you for what you do now?
As a teenager, I marketed myself as a “landscape professional. As a “landscape professional,”many other teenagers wanted a piece of the market, but my edge was that I advertised my business using designs and a logo. This separated me from the rest of my competition and eventually, I was designing logos and business cards for small businesses in my neighborhood. This included carwashes, local car-dealers, window washing companies, etc. Because I grew up in the Silicon Valley, giant tech companies were continually redesigning, and this, in turn, made created a need for smaller companies in the Silicon Valley to do the same thing.
Describe the best day of work you’ve ever had.
The best day at work is one in which I complete all my tasks for the day with time left for archery. Archery is very important to me, and I make sure that I have time to focus on that. Dealing with many clients can be stressful, but knowing that I have my hobby to lean upon at the end of the day gives me resilient no matter how stressful it gets.
How do you keep yourself motivated?
Archery and self-improvement motivate me. I have stated that archery keeps me resilient because when I am focused on a target, I let go of everything else. Focusing on another target and hitting that target gives me my release from a stressful day. I also like to watch advertisements, websites, and commercials as a critic. Knowing that I can improve the designs of these marketing strategies motivates me to improve upon the skills that I have.
What kind of business ideas excite you most?
I get my inspiration from random items. Ideas that excite me most usually stem from simple everyday objects. I could be eating a pie and could find a way to implement what I just ate a design!
Have you ever tried any unorthodox techniques to attract attention to your business?
As an artist, you have to be unconventional—it is called thinking outside the box.
What personal achievement are you most proud of?
I have received achievements, awards, and letters of gratitude from my clients and community, but personally, my favorite achievements come from small business owners who write me cards telling me how my design has helped take their firm to the next level.
What wisdom would you have liked to share with yourself when you first started out?
My last piece of advise that I wish I had when I was younger to those who are starting out is to try to align passion with what you are doing while young. People who are happiest are those who are satisfied with what they are doing and calling it a career.