Nothing in life is value-less. Everything has beauty and individuality. Even the smallest stylistic decision can make the biggest difference in the world, and I'm here to take advantage of those decisions in motion media and visual narrative.
Hi there.
My name's Ian Cruz.
I work Motion Graphics, Video Editing, and Graphic Design.
I’m trained in all things design and media with a BFA degree
in Electronic Design and Multimedia at CUNY City College.
My range in skills makes me very versatile and able to work
both remotely and in professional team environments.
Let's be visually empowered together.
email me! iancruz.graphics@gmail.com
Branding Projects
Power Button Entertainment
Event Organization
New Empire Shufflers
Dance Organization
Music Unto Visual
Student Thesis
Typography Projects
Typeface Design
"Next Alphabet"
Typography Book
"The Light Years"
Typography Triptych
"Ironic Triptych"
Various Projects
UI/UX Icons
"Movi Mi"
Print Production
"Doctors Without Borders"
Poetry Book
"Roller Coasters"
Logos / Logotypes
POWER BUTTON Entertainment
Event Organization Foundation and Branding
Power Button Entertainment is a Music Event Organization
I founded in 2017 based in New York City.
The organization is here to bring DJs together and present talent in the Electronic Dance Music industry for the world to see. I am its founder, designer and video artist. We've ran two official events and several free Monday events. I worked all design and media for the organization, including posters, social media, trailers, and live visuals.
Organization Logo
Official Company Logo and Type
Event Posters
Official Posters for 2017 and 2018 events
Power Buttons
Button Pins handed out at Events
Video Media
Video Trailers and Music Promotion
New Empire Shufflers
Dance Organization Volunteer Rebranding
New Empire Shufflers is a Dance Organization based in New York City.
Created by Edith C. Rivera and Shuffle NYC founder Deven Jay in 2015, the duo aimed to create a team that represents the diverse & unique talent New York has to offer.
NES has since grown to over 50 members internationally and have performed at private events, launch parties, collaborations with major brands and participated in various music video projects. NES also provides shuffle classes and all level dance meetups at festivals (such as EDC NY, Ezoo, Moonrise), at local parks & studios.
The New Empire Shufflers mission is to continue to inspire by evolving our dance, showcasing our passion & growing our community through positive encouragement.
Organization Logo
Official Company Logotype
"World" Style Logo Expansion
Logo Re-adaptation for World Presence
Sticker Designs
Photography of Apparel
Hoodie Apparel designed with Logo
Music Unto Visual (MUV)
Music Responsive Visual Software Beta
Music Unto Visual (MUV) is open source visual software, based in Processing 3, for digital music performance artists. This project was created as part of the CUNY City College Electronic Design and Multimedia BFA Thesis Exhibition.
Using a clean, simple, and minimal interface, artists
are able to create visuals for screens or projectors
that will accompany their live performance without
requiring a secondary computer.
By creating software
that does not require a team of trained visual designers
to operate, MUV will allow more musicians to experience
and appreciate the world of live visual art. The software
will read and understand standardized digital instrument
protocols, so that live performers already familiar with
today’s music software can seamlessly use MUV.
In addition to software, MUV’s collateral includes
a print and pdf software manual, infographic poster,
and a handout which describes the work and links
to the website. A responsive website with free Mac
and Windows software download will also be available
as well as social media pages for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vimeo.
Preliminary Research
Development of Proposal Overview, Expanded Project Statement, Background Information, and Materials Research
Type Study
Typeface Experimentation
Software Flow
Concept of Final Software Flowchart
Logo Development
Initial Logo Concept
Installation Breakdown
Pre and Post Reception Installation Models
Project Collaterals
Handout, Display Poster, User Manual and Website
Reception Photography
Photography from the CCNY EDM BFA Thesis Exhibition
Video Trailer
Live Preview of Software Beta
Next Alphabet
Retro Concept Typeface
Next Alphabet is a formulaic typeface influenced by Wim Crouwel's "Neue Alphabet" of the 1960s.
Wim Crouwel is one of my favorite graphic designers and I wanted to pay him homage by designing a typeface influenced by it, yet still functional for display use.
Display Poster
Display Explainer
The Light Years
Typography Book
The Light Years is a short story written by Italo Calvino. This project uses type, and only type, to display structure and narrative.
Using "signs" displayed throughout the tale, type is presented in both body text and display text formats to create a narrative flow for the reader. Display type is more "playful," and uses varying placement, cropping, and manipulative techniques to express what the signs in the story are actually portraying.
The use of varying levels of black and dark blue are meant to portray that the universe is truly expansive, and that conversations in space will always surmise to some kind of "grey area," open to interperetation by any who view it.
Cover and Print
Select Spreads
Selected Spreads from the Printed Copy
Ironic Triptych
Design Triptych Project
Ironic Triptych is a designed triptych utilizing the antonyms "Conservative" and "Liberal" alongside a third word "Indifferent".
A usage of 3D design, simple colors, and minimalism to produce an ironic play on politics and ideology. The figures made in 3D are designed to represent Lego pieces placed together. The "Conservative" poster is a play on "red" politics, in color, composition, and literal definition of the term. The "Liberal" poster plays on "blue" politics, creating a more "anarchic" scene with pieces sliding out like a game of Jenga. The "Indifferent" poster portrays pieces in green, signifying an RGB - influenced color triptych.
Display Posters
Movi Mi
Concept Smartphone App
Movi Mi is a conceptual fusion of Netflix and Fandango - a movie search optimization tool designed for finding and favoriting nearby theaters based on personal movie preferences.
Many movies air in theaters today, so much so that it can often times be hard to track all but your absolute must-watch films. MoviMi is a concept I came up with utilizing the mindset "Netflix for theater films". You can favorite film genres and theaters you like, have custom settings, and more.
This project utilizes a custom made set of icons and a mock User Interface. The iconography, interface, and color scheme is designed to invoke the presence of a traditional "Admit One" movie ticket.
Logo, Launchscreen, and Icons
User Interface
Doctors Without Borders
Concept Rebranding and Stationery
Doctors Without Borders is an international humanitarian medical non-governmental organisation (NGO) of French origin best known for its projects in conflict zones and in countries affected by endemic diseases.
This conceptual rebranding project focuses on utilizing a new logo, typeface, and stationery for the brand. Deliverables include logo with type, letterhead, business card, and business envelope.
Logo and Stationery