Nick Alvarez is a multidisciplinary creator with an emphasis on experience, visual storytelling and brand strategy | Currently settled in Seattle, Washington, USA.
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Life is created from moments -- journeys that, when shared via art, become a method of communicating rich human experiences with others. Although I don't always feel like an artist in the way artists are depicted, growing up I had always sought (and continue to seek) expression through art -- whether in photography, video, graphic design, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, sound design, etc.
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The sense of relating to others through my creations spurred a sense of fulfillment that -- when combined with a tendency to analyze human thought and behavior -- led me to my undergraduate studies at Emory University with a focus in Social Psychology. I developed a fascination in considering how patterns of human thought influence behaviors and perceptions.
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After completing my undergraduate education and taking a few years to grow my professional skills in project management and brand development in Juarez, Mexico, I recognized an opportunity to return to an inert but deeply influential core of my being, so I took a risk in following my passions -- earning my Masters in Fine Arts Photography from Parsons School of Design in NYC while engaging in the surrounding creative industry as much as possible. I was quickly thrust into the production side of creative work, joining crews in a variety of roles ranging from producer to photographer, stylist, lighting assistant, PA, etc. while also managing a commercial photo studio in Manhattan full-time. The experience was demanding, creatively and physically challenging but captivating as well. Many days I woke up at 4:30am stressed and anxious, getting to the subway in Brooklyn at 5am to make it to the studio in time for an early morning shoot, sometimes wrapping my work after 10pm once cleaning and painting concluded. As you can expect, it wasn't long before I was burnt out, but looking back it was a formative and necessary moment in my life trajectory.
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After completing my undergraduate education and taking a few years to grow my professional skills in project management and brand development in Juarez, Mexico, I recognized an opportunity to return to an inert but deeply influential core of my being, so I took a risk in following my passions -- earning my Masters in Fine Arts Photography from Parsons School of Design in NYC while engaging in the surrounding creative industry as much as possible. I was quickly thrust into the production side of creative work, joining crews in a variety of roles ranging from producer to photographer, stylist, lighting assistant, PA, etc. while also managing a commercial photo studio in Manhattan full-time. The experience was demanding, creatively and physically challenging but captivating as well. Many days I woke up at 4:30am stressed and anxious, getting to the subway in Brooklyn at 5am to make it to the studio in time for an early morning shoot, sometimes wrapping my work after 10pm once cleaning and painting concluded. As you can expect, it wasn't long before I was burnt out, but looking back it was a formative and necessary moment in my life trajectory.
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If you want to know more, just ask. Long story short, I wrapped up my MFA in New York, and briefly continued my work in production before being swept to the west coast (San Francisco) where I picked up a temporary teaching role as a photography instructor at a private high school in the city. Disillusioned to the state of creative individuals in the city and with the only motivation I needed to leave, I packed up and left just as quick as I arrived, heading north to Seattle, WA.
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On year two in Seattle, I'm loving my life in this region with a job that allows me to practice and grow my strategic marketing skills on a daily basis. Though I am able to flex my creative muscles less frequently than before, the breadth of experiences has been invaluable thus far as I continue to approach my goal of becoming a full-time creative director.
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If you have a project in mind that could use my skills, I'm available to work independently or with a team, anywhere in the world. Please don't hesitate to bring me on for a project that you see as a potential fit, and if you have any other questions please reach out via the submission form in the 'Contact' tab.