Andre Villanueva
I fell in love with art, words, and technology at an early age.
I’m a relentlessly curious creative leader on an artistic journey spanning over two decades. I’m excited to continue exploring new ideas, collaborating with talented teams, and creating work that makes a difference.
Read on to discover the projects and experiences that have shaped my path.
File under: vector illustration, the ’80s ruled, Nagel worship.
Choose My Own Adventure
As a kid, I dreamed of having my work appear in a book or magazine. Words or pictures, it didn’t matter! Being too young and inexperienced to be a professional artist or writer didn’t keep me from creating.
I wrote and illustrated my own little stapled-together books, teamed up with friends and siblings on zany tales, and cherished any opportunity at school to contribute drawings and words to newsletters and district-wide projects.
My book Inspector Ice-Cream (co-written with my sister) was selected by the school librarian to be read aloud to several grades and added to the library collection for students to enjoy.
Choose Your Own Adventure books were my absolute favorite, and I even crafted my own medieval quest with branching storyline. Now, I don’t have the original story, but here’s a sample of one of the branches, updated for the discerning modern reader:
A fearsome dragon approaches the walls of your castle.
What do you do?Do you sally forth and attempt to slay the creature? If so, turn to page 16. If you would rather just vibe in the castle, continue to the next page. Or, if you’re feeling especially ✨feral✨ and want to start a TikTok dance collab with the foul beast, leap to page 25. If you copped the Animal Empath perk, you can try to win the dragon over to become your emotional support lizard by flipping to page 19.
Looking back, I realize those playful projects were helping me prepare for a future filled with creative pursuits.
File under: creative type treatments, 3D typography, buttering up my UK overlords (see the LONDON piece).
Dot-Matrix Days
A 128k Taste of Coding
While I was busy honing my drawing and writing skills, another fascination was brewing: the Apple IIe my dad brought home for the family. This beast was souped up with a whopping 128k of RAM, dual 5.25-inch floppy drives, and—believe it or not—an 80-column text card.
The final chapters of the computer manual introduced me to the basics of programming, and I was instantly hooked. Over the next several years, I raided every library for programming books like a code-hungry pirate. I even subscribed to an Apple programming magazine. I delved into BASIC and Apple Pascal, eventually venturing into assembly language, which truly pushed me to my limits.
I would print the code for games I was playing, and I mined these dot-matrix printouts for cool tips and tricks. I cobbled together code from the resources at my disposal, and enjoyed tinkering with variables and playing “what if?” with lines of code.
Oftentimes those experimentations led to errors or crashes … or deliciously beautiful outcomes. Ah, Serendipity. She’ll continue to bless me countless times on this adventure.
Some of my favorite creations included an Arkanoid game clone and a keyboard remapping that made quirky sounds as you traversed the keys.
+--------------------------------------------------+ | SCORE: 012345 LIVES: *** | | | | ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ## | | GE EK @@ CO RE @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ | | :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: | | == == == == == == == == HI MO M! == == == == | | == == == == == == == == == == == == == == == | | | | * + * + * | | | | == == == == == == == == == == == == == == == | | == == == OG CO DE RZ == == == == == == == == | | | | == == == == == == == == == == == == == == == | | == == == == == == == == == == == == == == == | | | | o | | | | ========= | +---------------------------------------APPLE-RULEZ+
I’ve come to realize that my early coding experiences taught me how to truly immerse myself in a subject and gave me confidence to tackle new challenges, especially the extra-technical ones that might make some folks glance over and say, “Respectfully, nah.”
Also, the “what if?” sense of adventure has definitely carried over into my image editing and processing. I’ve wriggled out of more than a few Photoshop ruts by asking myself, “What if I pressed this weird button instead?” or “What if moved this slider in the ‘wrong’ direction?”
Embarrassing School Anecdote
I checked out any and all Apple coding and general programming books from the school library. One day, the librarian marched up to my English class for the dreaded overdue book roll-call. Yes, this was the Dark Ages.
Before she even spoke, I knew I was doomed. Most (if not all) of the titles she was about to announce were mine.
Sure enough, I was the lone offender. She began reading them aloud in an ultra-slow librarian cadence: one geeky title after another, at least eight in total.
The room turned into a spotlight. Everyone stared, silently wondering: What has the nerd checked out now? And, wait … isn’t he one of the three sad souls who started that fantasy book club at the library, where they literally just read their own books at the same table quietly for 45 minutes at a stretch? And, can we just get back to the dang lesson?
Finally, she left. And so did my cool points.
File under: Photoshop Tips, Tricks & Fixes bookazines; finding a use for difference and exclusion blend modes; layer mask addiction.
Griptape Burns & Graphic Obsession
How Board Culture Became My Secret Muse
Skateboarding has been a constant force in my life. Growing up, it kept me (mostly) out of trouble, offering a healthy outlet to stay active and fueling my creativity with a constant stream of sick art. The bold deck graphics (especially the iconic Powell Peralta Bones Brigade designs), the underground vibe of magazine ads and skate videos, and the rebellious energy of graffiti all left their mark on me.
Back in our troublemaking early twenties, my brother and I got a tip from a skateboarding friend about a web design program at the local college. As it turned out, this skater was actually one of the teachers in the program!
We signed up soon after, and we rolled straight into an exciting journey to getting our web design certifications and degrees. (We probably still owe our guy some sort of referral bonus. 💰)
I also began quite the love affair with a little program called Photoshop, one that’s still going strong, pixel by pixel.
If you notice my affinity for collages, grunge textures, street art, and rough-around-the-edges design, you can probably blame all those years spent rolling around on “useless wooden toys.” One of my earliest published artworks was a tech-inspired graffiti piece, drawn from the vibrant street art I encountered while skateboarding through Washington, D.C. so many years ago.
File under: cut-and-paste collage, mixed media mania, The Digital Art Book.
The Rise of the Mystic Mentor
RPG Edition
You awaken groggily in the misty Halls of Akademia.
You rise and survey your surroundings, noticing a hefty scroll in your clutches.
Memory returns in fragments. You were recently appointed as In-House Designer, a title granted to you after your legendary quest for Web Design Mastery.
You glance again at the radiant scroll. Its surface shimmers with arcane glyphs: HTML runes etched by your own hand throughout your arduous journey across the darklands of The Web.
Suddenly, a robed figure appears before you, face obscured by the impossible darkness of its hood. Eerie noise emits from that void, more creak than voice: “Dost thou accept a new quest?”
Before you can even roll for Wisdom, your mouth casts its own spell: Answer Without Forethought.
“Yes,” you blurt out.
“Very good,” the robed figure responds, and reaches out. The hand is skeletal, larger than a human’s, with dagger-like fingertips. You wonder about that curiously pedestrian response coming from such an intimidating figure…
This time you’re able to get that Wisdom roll (a perfect 20!) and instantly intuit it‘s asking for a handshake (clawshake?). You also understand it’s beseeching you to bestow your knowledge upon a steady stream of initiates pouring into this dungeon.
You shake, careful to maneuver your fingers around the bladed tips, and the robed figure slithers back into the darkness. A door magically opens in the distance. Level 1. You trudge determinedly toward your fate.
(OK. OK. Yes, I grew up playing D&D. I initially wanted to write this whole segment as an RPG, but you’re probably confused and irritated enough already. I’ll stop with the nerdspeak and start over.)
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UPDATED TITLE:
From the Back of the Classroom to the Front: My Unexpected Journey into Teaching Photoshop
From the Back of the Classroom to the Front: My Unexpected Journey into Teaching Photoshop
One of the most surprising (and rewarding) turns in my career has been teaching. I never imagined myself standing in front of a classroom, yet in late 2004, that’s exactly where I found myself.
I had graduated earlier in the year, and I just secured a position as the graphic designer for the in-house agency for the college. Honestly, I can’t remember exactly how it happened, but at some point, someone asked if I wanted to teach Photoshop and HTML. Before my mind could put on the brakes, I just blurted out, “yes.”
Today, most colleagues know me as a Photoshop specialist and web nerd, but back in the waning days of the summer of 2004, I hadn’t done much “specializing” yet. With only a few weeks to prepare, I found myself energized by the challenge, a spark reminiscent of the excitement I felt tackling coding puzzles in my youth.
What I thought would be just a handful of classes as a fill-in adjunct instructor ended up stretching into almost six years of teaching.
Along the way, I discovered that I didn’t just enjoy teaching, I actually had a real knack for it.
I had an absolute blast pushing myself to learn every bit of Photoshop and web design minutiae I could. You never knew what kind of questions or curveballs students would throw your way, so I wanted to be as prepared as possible. But more than that, I wanted my students to walk away with real-world technical skills they could actually use to compete out there.
Seeing a few of my former students working at my current employer years later, I feel I succeeded. But the truth is, sometimes I considered myself a bit of a fraud. Because through teaching, I realized I was learning just as much (if not more) than my students. Every new classroom was a fresh puzzle and an opportunity for my own growth.
Although the design program and my time in the classroom eventually came to an end, fate soon presented me with a different teaching opportunity … and another chance to say “yes.” This time, I embraced it even more enthusiastically.
File under: GotPrint, IllumaPrint featured artist, one of those rare instances where I actually sat down and coordinated a color palette.
Landing that Colourful Cover (yes, with a “u”)
Keeping Calm and Rendering On
After wrapping up my teaching gig, I shifted my focus back to my primary design career.
During lunch breaks, I often wandered into the nearby Books-A-Million or Barnes and Noble. I’d browse the latest creative magazines from the UK, like Advanced Photoshop, Photoshop Creative, and Practical Photoshop. And then there were the legendary bookazines: hefty, thirty-dollar tomes brimming with expert tutorials and cutting-edge digital art inspiration. Within several years, I would appear in all of these.
The UK seemed to be the epicenter for digital creatives, and these imported creative magazines were bigger (both in size and in style) and more technical and creative than the few domestic ones. Sorry, just facts.
I set myself a goal to be featured in those colorful pages. (And no, I didn’t throw in a “u” there. That was just for the chapter title gag. Relax. 😀)
I immersed myself in the latest trends showcased in these publications, tackled as many tutorials as time allowed, and eagerly applied new techniques to my own projects, always pushing at my creative boundaries.
After a few years of intense practice and dedication (and many fruitless submissions to editors), I got my break as Artist of the Month for Photoshop Creative. That opportunity became my foothold in the industry. Soon after, I was invited to contribute as a writer and artist for the magazine, a chance I graciously accepted.
Over nearly seven years, I wrote hundreds of articles, created numerous cover artworks, and contributed insights to Photoshop panels and features—often being referred to as an “expert,” though I always felt I was still learning on the job.
I had the honor of being commissioned by multiple editors from across the UK. I collaborated a handful of times with the folks at Advanced Photoshop, which was the ultimate creative magazine. Some of my work was even translated into different languages. It was far more than I ever imagined during those lunch breaks, flipping excitedly through the pages of these magazines, trying to soak up just a bit more inspiration before heading back to work.
Free online tutorials and shifting trends spelled the end for most creative magazines. Even so, the experience was invaluable. I learned more about image editing and technical writing there than I ever did in school.
File under: juvenilia, spelling accolades, boy my handwriting sure has degenerated over the years.
Dang, Why is this Webpage SOOO LONG!?
Tiring of this Self-Indulgent “Portfolio” Site?
OK, I understand.
I actually set out to have a very streamlined one-pager, given how miniscule the average attention span is these days.
It’s just that the more I write, the sillier and nerdier things seem to get. And I keep wanting to write more.
Well, we’re almost done.
How about a quick art break before continuing (or jettisoning from this page altogether)?
I typically try creating art on any platform I encounter, from the early Apple II days, through more than 20 years of Photoshop exploration, and even today, sketching in PowerPoint (painful but fun).
In the spirit of my sketchlust, use the doodlepad below and exorcise some of that frustration. Feel free to download your sketch (in handy PNG format) as a memento to all this nonsense.
Ye Basic Doodlepad
File under: Mastering Type book, going overboard with blend modes, Divi Design Showcase selection.
Letterform Love
Yes, it should be clear by now I’ve always been drawn to the written word.
Early on in my graphic design career, I realized I also loved the art of the letter, and the endless ways you can configure groups of letters to speak or evoke a mood.
One of my first commissions from the lovely folks in the UK was a typography tutorial for a creative bookazine.
I had many subsequent opportunities to share my enthusiasm for type in my run as a monthly contributor for Photoshop Creative magazine. And I was overjoyed to have my work for The Phoenix Building Lofts selected as an example of typographic excellence in the recent second edition of Mastering Type. Go, downtown Birmingham!!
Through this work, I’m continually reminded how rewarding it is to share knowledge.
I often told students that learning graphic design and typography is both a blessing and a curse. Once you start learning their secrets, you’ll never be able to look at a print ad, webpage, or cereal box the same way. You’ll catch yourself mentally adjusting kerning, experimenting with font pairings, and redesigning layouts in your mind’s eye.
Yet, beyond the technical skills, I always emphasized the profound impact that typography has on our world.
It’s certainly been a privilege to weave my passion for typography and the written word so deeply into my career. I never envisioned such a word-tastic twist to my appreciation of art.
File under: skate rats till the bitter end, legal graffiti, Practical Photoshop.
Discovering Creativity in Unexpected Places
As someone who thrives on creative expression, I’m always seeking environments that nurture innovation.
Since a significant portion of my time is spent at work, finding such creativity-conducive employers is important for my well-being.
If I can’t create, I’ll gradually lose my mojo.
Early in my career, I was excited to join an IT company, though I initially worried the environment might feel a bit “dry.” I expected to dive into networks, cybersecurity, and back-end servers—and I certainly did—but what truly surprised me was discovering ample opportunities to express my creative side through marketing campaigns, email designs, websites, and more.
Now in my career, I’m at a bank. A bank?!? It’s one of the last places I envisioned myself working, but as with the IT company, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the creative opportunities I’ve discovered. In fact, this role lets me draw on almost everything I’ve learned—from those early days of homemade books and tricked-out code on my Apple IIe to my design career with Adobe apps, web and graphic design, and creative leadership. It’s all come together in ways I never expected.
My experience shows that it’s possible to think outside the box even in highly structured and regulated industries. Whether it’s designing a more engaging presentation, finding a novel approach to a routine process, or collaborating with colleagues in fresh ways on new initiatives, I’ve managed to keep my creative spark alive.
I’m thankful for the unexpected turns my journey has taken, and for the way it keeps unfolding. Here’s to more surprises!
Creativity can shine anywhere, just as long as you’re willing to see the possibilities and have the courage to bring something unique and inspiring to the table.
File under: pencils, pretty pictures, painted portraits, forced alliteration.