1. AWARD-WINNING BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS – AUGMENTED REALITY BOOK DESIGN
“How to Communicate Effectively with Anyone Anywhere” (Career Press)
Co-authored by Raúl Sánchez and Dan Bullock, Illustrated by Rod Sánchez

I am the Illustrator of the nonfiction award-winning business book on intercultural communication, How to Communicate Effectively with Anyone, Anywhere, (Career Press) co-authored by Raúl Sánchez and Dan Bullock. I led the design of the augmented reality (AR) learning experience of the book with the authors, where key illustrations are designed to animate through (AR) technology to unlock additional tips and demonstrate key business communication concepts, which resulted in the Axiom Business Book Award.

Regarding the cover design, I was asked by the publisher, Career Press to design and illustrate the cover of the book. I also directed the visual identity and motion design of the official book trailer, the augmented reality book trailer, as well as the online Amazon campaign.

Book Awards:

Official Book Trailer:

Cover Design and Illustration:

Interior Page Illustrations: Select a thumbnail to view the full image below.

Amazon Campaign Design:

Publications, Media, Awards, and Book Events: Select a thumbnail to view the full image below.

2. ROCKEFELLER CENTER – EXHIBITION AND PUBLICATION:
193 International Flag Artwork Exhibition in Partnership with City Harvest

My artwork has been selected by committee for the Rockefeller Center – The Flag Project 2023 Exhibition which honors New Yorkers in need. Rockefeller Center partners with City Harvest, the world’s first and largest food rescue organization dedicated to feeding hungry New Yorkers.  My flag design is titled, “Give a Slice of Your Heart to the World” and was exhibited at Rockefeller Center and published in the Rockefeller Center Catalog.

•  On View:  April 3 – 30, 2023,  *open to the public 
•  Where:  Rockefeller Center, the heart of midtown Manhattan in New York City surrounding The Rink 
•  Information: Exhibition & Catalog
•  How to get involved to help feed hungry New Yorkers:  City Harvest   

Artwork: “Give a Slice of Your Heart to the World”

Publications: Select a thumbnail to view the full image below.

3. AUGMENTED REALITY PAINTING, “ONE VISION”:
Exhibition & Publications: The Guardian, The United Nations, The Wall Street Journal

“One Vision” celebrates global unity among nations.  While all of us are unique human beings, we all share vital commonalities – we all share a universal heartbeat, the air we breathe, the capacity to love and to be loved.  This painting depicts our interconnectedness in the belief that together, we can build a better world. The painting has been designed to animate through augmented reality (AR) technology using your smartphone.

Media: Digital, Acrylic, Spray Paint on canvas
Augmented Reality Credits: Motion design and animation by Rod Sánchez. Music composed by Raúl Sánchez and Rod Sánchez (Sanchez 2winz).

2D Painting: “One Vision”

Augmented Reality Painting (Video): “One Vision”

Note: Sound is silent in the beginning of the video. Music plays when the augmented reality experience is triggered by the smartphone.

Publications and Media: Select a thumbnail to view the full image below.

4. FIFA WORLD CUP 2018 – TSCHUTTI HEFTLI (SWITZERLAND ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE):  
El País Newspaper Interview – The Colombia National Football Team

My painted portrait of Argentine professional football player and manager. Diego Armando Maradona, was one of 32 selected Maradona portraits out of 523 worldwide submissions in the Tschutti Heftli International Illustration Competition – hosted by Tschutti Heftli.  International jury members included National Soccer Hall of Fame U.S. professional footballer and Fox Sports commentator, Alexi Lalas.  Each winning artist painted the portraits of one team in the FIFA World Cup 2018.  I was selected to paint the portraits of The Colombia National Football Team for publication in the magazine.

My artwork and a full interview were featured on the front page of El País – Newspaper. The feature interview, “El Hombre que Pintó a la Selección,” by Zapata, Anderson was published in El País, the national newspaper of Cali, Colombia in South America on June 15, 2018.  The feature cover story focuses on my artwork of the FIFA World Cup 2018 – The Colombia National Football Team published in the Tschutti Heftli Collectors Album (Tschutti Heftli, Switzerland Art and Culture Magazine).

The painted portraits include the following players in The Colombia National Football Team – FIFA World Cup 2018:
James Rodriguez, Radamel Falcao, David Ospina, Juan Cuadrado, Carlos Sánchez, Frank Fabra, Santiago Arias, Abel Aguilar, Edwin Cardona, Davinson Sánchez, Cristián Zapata, & coach José Néstor Pérkerman.

Colombia National Football Team – Portrait Artwork and Team Emblem Design

Select a thumbnail to view the full image below.

2D Portrait Painting to 3D Portrait Painting: James Rodriguez

2D Painting:

El País Newspaper: Interview and Publication:

Excerpt from full interview on front page of El País Newspaper.

5. MARKETING CAMPAIGN DESIGN:
The City University of New York (CUNY) – Baruch College
"The College of Possibilities Campaign”

I provided art direction and designed/illustrated The City University of New York (CUNY) – Baruch College "College of Possibilities Campaign” for (Fall, Spring, & Summer).  Each seasonal "paint splash" was created to help inspire the desire of learning, growing, and becoming – spreading awareness of the opportunities that The City University of New York (CUNY) – Baruch College offers.  Printed Advertisements have been published in Time Out NY, Metro NY, AM New York, to name a few.  Please see below for a full page Ad published in Time Out NY.

Design Contributions:
Art Direction, Brand Strategy, Graphic Design, Illustration, Brand Identity Design, Logo Design, Typography

Billboard Design: Subway Advertising in New York City

Visual Identity: Baruch College Website

Time Out New York: Full-page Advertisement

Catalog Cover Illustration & Design: Fall, Spring, & Summer Semesters

Media Campaign Applications: Select a thumbnail to view the full image below.

Online Banner Design: International Trade Program – Zicklin School of Business

6. THE VARSITY ARTS EXHIBITION – MCCONNELL ARTS CENTER
The Ohio State University Athletes, Men’s Tennis
Messages of Unity and Perseverance – Global Sport & Spirit

What if the tennis court could tell a story of its own?
Building on The Varsity Arts exhibition where my artwork “Winged Painter” was exhibited, I developed this concept project by drawing on my experience as a varsity tennis player at The Ohio State University and my practice as a multidisciplinary artist. The project explores how the tennis court can become a visual storytelling space, that communicates the values that make sport meaningful and bring people together.

Currently, some professional tournament courts have the city name painted on each side of the court surface, such as “Melbourne” in The Australian Open.  Through a series of conceptual court designs, I explored how messages of perseverance, possibility, sportsmanship, and unity could connect players, spectators, and the wider world. Tennis terminology becomes a shared visual language, transforming the court into a place for reflection, motivation, and connection.

A unique message could be painted on each side of the court (on all courts of the tournament including stadium courts and practice courts) serving as universal symbols, reflections of the sport’s deeper meanings, or empowering global messages unifying the players and the spectators.  This message on the court could be something that players would not only interact with physically during their walking path on each changeover, but would also feel subconsciously alongside the spectators as axioms of motivation and empowerment.  This courtside inspirational global messaging would not only have a great impact in experiencing the sport in person, but also virtually on TV or online streaming as well. 

Each message could incorporate tennis terminology including: Serve, Line, Love, Point, Match, etc.  Please see below for 3 conceptual ideas expressing the global sport, the spirit of tennis, and the potential for visual storytelling to bring people together.:

1. A Dialogue: The messages on each side act as a mirror, or function as a call and response, for both the players and spectators.
• Baseline A:  ”The lines that connect us all.”…………………………………... • Baseline B: “The matches that unite us all.”
• Baseline A: “Every point is the opportunity to persevere.”…………. • Baseline B: “Every point is a possibility to pioneer.”
• Baseline A: “The global sport that connects us all.”…………………….. • Baseline B: “The global sport that electrifies us all."
• Baseline A:  ”Each serve ignites a new beginning.”…………..………..… • Baseline B: “Serve each point like it is match point.”

2. Motivation and Empowerment: As messages of impact for the players and the spectators – the messages serve to spark inspiration to action and also to provide the reinforcement to succeed on one’s own path.  

3. An Emblem of the Tournament’s Ethos: The messages reflect on shared human values of: Sportsmanship and Respect, Integrity and Ethics, Inclusivity and Graciousness, Excellence and Effort.

Concept Prototype for “A Dialogue":

Baseline A: “Every point is the opportunity to persevere.”…………. • Baseline B: “Every point is a possibility to pioneer.”

7. BOOK COVER DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION:
Penguin Random House | Scholastic Inc. | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | Career Press

I create book cover design solutions for various covers in the (grades K – 12) education market as well as in the trade market. My design and Illustration of the Random House Children’s Books, Fall 2008 Catalog Cover received a Silver Design Award from The Create Awards Winners Showcase and my illustrated book cover I created for “Into Reading” (¡Arriba la Lectura!) program with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, received a 2nd Place Design Award by The New England Book Show.

Design Contributions:
Creative Direction, Graphic Design, Illustration, Logo Design, Typography

Select a thumbnail to view the full image below.

8. NIKE – SPECULATIVE BRAND CAMPAIGN

I directed and designed a speculative brand campaign featuring a series of three shoe design concepts for the Nike Quest 6 Men’s Running Shoe.  I designed the graphic elements on each shoe to relate to the vital human organs of the runner.  The “Bio Pulse” (Red) shoe design relates
to the pulse of the heart.  The “Aero Gills” (Aqua) shoe design relates to the breathing of the lungs.  The “Neuro Flow” (Blue) shoe design relates to the mental toughness of the mind. In the designs, I incorporated biomimicry concepts and material design Strategies where nature, technology, and
human-directed AI design merge.

STORYBOARD – HORIZONTAL FORMAT (16:9)

STORYBOARD – VERTICAL FORMAT (9:16)

CREATIVE PROCESS – STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY

9. 2D PAINTING TO 3D ANIMATED FILM:
“Holding Your Light in Faith”

“Holding Your Light in Faith” is a journey into the darkness of the grieving heart. In a universe of sorrow – even in the darkness, the light of those we love lives in a frequency of light in the lantern of our heart. “Holding Your Light in Faith” attempts to resonate within this frequency, to give hope to families on the grieving heart journey.

Media: Digital Painting
Film Credits: Motion Design, 3D Modeling, and Animation by Rod Sánchez. Music composed by Raúl Sánchez and Rod Sanchez (Sanchez 2winz).

2D Artwork: “Holding Your Light in Faith”

3D Animated Film: “Holding Your Light in Faith”
Music Composed by: Raúl Sánchez and Rod Sánchez (Sanchez 2winz)

Still Frames of Film: “Holding Your Light in Faith”

Select a thumbnail to view the full image below.

10. 2D PAINTING TO 3D ANIMATED FILM:
“One Vision”

“One Vision” invites you on a journey within a painting, reimagining the way we experience a 2-dimensional artwork into a 3-dimensional imagination symphony of cinematic storytelling, connection, and discovery. As Antoni Gaudí’s architectural wonder, “La Sagrada Familia” in Spain creates “organic unity” through “cathedral thinking,” the belief in building for future generations – “One Vision” strives to synchronize our universal heartbeat, honoring global unity among nations.

Media: Digital, Acrylic, Spray Paint on canvas
Film Credits: Motion Design, 3D Modeling, and Animation by Rod Sánchez. Music composed by Raúl Sánchez and Rod Sánchez (Sanchez 2winz).

2D Artwork: “One Vision”

3D Animated Film: “One Vision”
Music Composed by: Raúl Sánchez and Rod Sánchez (Sanchez 2winz)

Still Frames of Film: “One Vision”

Select a thumbnail to view the full image below.

11. 2D PAINTING TO 3D DIGITAL ARTWORK:
“Hope Rise”

“Hope Rise” is an immersive painting experience that combines the universal languages of visual art and music. I believe that even as we embark on a journey of countless miles of grieving, healing starts with our first leap of Faith joined with family. “Hope Rise” invites you on a journey within a painting, reimagining the way we experience a 2-dimensional artwork into a 3-dimensional imagination symphony of cinematic storytelling, connection, and discovery.

Media: Digital Painting, 3D Modeling

2D Artwork: “Hope Rise”

Still Frames of the Painting, “HopeRise” in 3D: To view the journey of how the same 2D artwork can be experienced in 3 dimensions.

Select a thumbnail to view the full image below.

12. GALLERY OF ARTWORK:
Select Paintings

Select a thumbnail to view the full image below.

Select Paintings:

Select Studies – Portrait and Still Life:

13. MURAL ARTWORK AND PUBLICATION:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Artwork published in the “READ 180 – Real Book (Reading • Language • Learning)”

I was asked to create a large-scale mural artwork at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (HMH). My artwork and I are featured in an interview piece by Erik Bryan titled, “Fantasy Job” with HMH Editor, Nicole Sclama. The feature is located in the “Career Focus: Book Editor” section of the book. I created this large-scale mural artwork in support of sharing the creative process of how fantasy book covers are designed in middle grade and teen fantasy fiction novels, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

14. INTERNATIONAL ILLUSTRATION COMPETITION – WINNER:
Tschutti Heftli (Switzerland Arts & Culture Magazine), Publications and Media

My painted portrait of Argentine professional football player and manager. Diego Armando Maradona, was one of 32 selected Maradona portraits out of 523 worldwide submissions in the Tschutti Heftli International Illustration Competition – hosted by Swiss magazine, Tschutti Heftli.  International jury members included National Soccer Hall of Fame U.S. professional footballer and Fox Sports commentator, Alexi Lalas.  Each winning artist painted the portraits of one team in the FIFA World Cup 2018.  I was selected to paint the portraits The Colombia National Football Team for publication in Tschutti Heftli (Switzerland Arts & Culture Magazine).

Illustration Winner Award – Diego Maradona:

Publications and Media: Select a thumbnail to view the full image below.

15. SHOWREEL

Please select the showreel video below to view. My showreel includes 12 motion design projects.

Projects: 12 Projects | Time: 2:00 min

SHOWREEL DESCRIPTION
12 PROJECTS

Time: 0:00 – 0:05
Title Slide – Showreel

Time: 0:06 – 0:13
1. Career Press — Book Trailer
Award-winning book, “How to Communicate Effectively with Anyone, Anywhere”
Role:  Director – (2D & 3D Animator)
Description:  I directed the book trailer for our most recent book I illustrated on intercultural communication, “How to Communicate Effectively with Anyone, Anywhere” (Career Press), co-authored by Raúl Sánchez and Dan Bullock.  Raul Sánchez and I, (Sanchez 2winz) composed the musical score of the book trailer. Per the publisher’s offer, I am the book cover designer of “How to Communicate Effectively with Anyone, Anywhere.” I spearheaded the augmented reality design learning component in the book including, storyboarding and sequence design, 2D and 3D illustration animations, motion graphics, infographics, voice overs, and electronic music composition. The book received the Axiom Business Book Award, Book Excellence Award, Nautilus Book Award, Global Book Award, International Book Award, was a Staff Pick / Book to Watch by “Porchlight Books,” and was a Top business title by the “Financial Times” UK. I animated all the sequences in the book trailer.

Time: 0:14 – 0:30
2. “Winged Painter” — Award-winning Animated Film
Role:  Co-Director – (Visual Artist, Animator)
Description:  I co-directed with NYU Professor Raúl Sánchez the award-winning animated film, “Winged Painter” raising over $1,000 for the RAINN charity (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) affiliated with recording artist/musician Tori Amos. I created the painting artwork (“64 x 36”) on canvas in the film, stop motion animation, motion graphics, and filmed the liquid acrylic sequences in the film.  Raúl Sánchez and I, (Sanchez 2winz) composed the musical score of the film. Raúl Sánchez composed the ethereal piano piece of music and I composed the electronic music for the film. “Winged Painter” was an Official Selection of the Orlando Film Festival, earning nominations for: Best Music Video and Best Artwork.

Time: 0:31 – 0:35
3. The Weather Channel — “Day Planner” Tune In
Role:  Motion Graphic Designer – (Visual Identity Designer)
Description:  I created the visual identity and animation package of the on-air show "Day Planner" for the Weather Channel, designing motion graphics for the show’s promotional spots along with digital and print media advertising in support of the campaign design. 

Time: 0:36 – 0:40
4. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt  —  StudyPop! App
Role:  Lead User Experience (UX) Designer – (Logo Designer, Interaction Designer, Motion Designer, Game Designer)
Description:  I directed a team of 2 designers in the design of the mobile iOS App, “StudyPop!.” “StudyPop!” is an educational study game designed to help students in grades K – 12 learn vocabulary words. Played by 2 or more players – one player holds up the iOS device displaying a study word or concept while the other players give hints to solve for that word or concept. I animated the opening splash screen and the game screens.  I collaborated with the engineering team on the App’s development.

Time: 0:41 – 0:51
5. “Maddy in the Never-Ending Room” — Animated Film
Role:  Co-Director – (Visual Development Artist, Character Designer, 2D Animator, Logo Designer)
Description:  I co-directed with NYU Professor Raúl Sánchez the animated short film, “Maddy in the Never-Ending Room.”  As a visual development artist, I designed the characters, props, created background designs, overlays, underlays, shadow and color guides, floor plans ensuring a consistent style and quality of the film. During the story’s development stage, I created storyboards and animatics before compositing the refined rendered animation.  I designed the film’s title logo, visual effects, particle animations, and composed the sound design of the film.

Time: 0:52 – 0:58
6. Scholastic  —  “Fast Cars” Game Design
Role:  Art Director – (Interaction Designer, Game Designer)
Description:  I directed 1 designer on the art and design of the FASTT MATH game, “Fast Cars,” an educational math game designed to help students in grades 4 – 9 to accelerate their acquisition of addition and subtraction.  I conceptualized the game logic, visual design, and motion design creating concept sketches, motion design animations, and interactive prototypes, for clear communication with key internal stakeholders. Other FASTT MATH games I directed include: “Goal Frenzy,” “Speed Swap,” & “Spring Bloom.”

Time: 0:59 – 1:01
7. The City University of New York  —  “College of Possibilities” Campaign
Role:  Art Director – (Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Motion Designer)
Description:  I directed the identity design of The City University of New York (CUNY) “College of Possibilities” educational outreach campaign from conception to completion, consisting of digital media (e.g. banners on Yahoo!/social media) and print media advertising published widely in: Time Out New York, The Village Voice, and on large-scale billboards in New York City. 

Time: 1:02 – 1:19
8. Career Press  —  Augmented Reality Book Trailer
Award-winning book, “How to Communicate Effectively with Anyone, Anywhere”
Role:  Director – (Augmented Reality Designer, 2D & 3D Animator)
Description:  I directed the book trailer for our most recent book I illustrated on intercultural communication, “How to Communicate Effectively with Anyone, Anywhere” (Career Press), co-authored by Raúl Sánchez and Dan Bullock.  Raul Sánchez and I, (Sanchez 2winz) composed the musical score of the book trailer.  Per the publisher’s offer, I am the book cover designer of “How to Communicate Effectively with Anyone, Anywhere.” I spearheaded the augmented reality design learning component in the book including, storyboarding and sequence design, 2D and 3D illustration animations, motion graphics, infographics, voice overs, and electronic music composition. The book received the Axiom Business Book Award, Book Excellence Award, Nautilus Book Award, Global Book Award, International Book Award, was a Staff Pick / Book to Watch by “Porchlight Books,” and was a Top business title by the “Financial Times” UK. Raúl Sánchez is the main cast displaying the augmented reality experience through the smartphone in the trailer. I directed the film shoots and animated all the sequences in the book trailer.

Time: 1:20 – 1:28
9. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt — Brand Design
Role:  Lead User Experience (UX) Designer – (Brand Designer & Motion Designer)
Description:  My bilingual brand strategy experience includes establishing the brand identity design of the award-winning “Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Into Learning” brand for products in the English and Spanish language markets.

Time: 1:29 – 1:34
10. Career Press  —  Augmented Reality Book Trailer
Award-winning book, “How to Communicate Effectively with Anyone, Anywhere”
Role:  Director – (Cover Designer, Illustrator, Augmented Reality Designer, 2D & 3D Animator)
Description:  I directed the book trailer for our most recent book I illustrated on intercultural communication, “How to Communicate Effectively with Anyone, Anywhere” (Career Press), co-authored by Raúl Sánchez and Dan Bullock.  Raul Sánchez and I, (Sanchez 2winz) composed the musical score of the book trailer.  Per the publisher’s offer, I am the book cover designer of “How to Communicate Effectively with Anyone, Anywhere.” I spearheaded the augmented reality design learning component in the book including, storyboarding and sequence design, 2D and 3D illustration animations, motion graphics, infographics, voice overs, and electronic music composition. The book received the Axiom Business Book Award, Book Excellence Award, Nautilus Book Award, Global Book Award, International Book Award, was a Staff Pick / Book to Watch by “Porchlight Books,” and was a Top business title by the “Financial Times” UK. Raúl Sánchez is the main cast displaying the augmented reality experience through the smartphone in the trailer. I directed the film shoots and animated all the sequences in the book trailer.

Time: 1:35 – 1:39
11. Scholastic  —  “Underwater Photography” Game Design
Role:  Lead User Experience (UX) Designer – (Illustrator, Interaction Designer, Game Designer)
Description:  I led a team of 2 designers on the conceptualization and design of the MATH 180 game, “Underwater Photography.”  I managed game art assets, game-ready user interface (UI) assets, and visual design treatments for this educational math game. I illustrated the fish characters, game environments, and the heads up display (HUD) elements.  I created prototype micro-animations of the game to communicate to key stakeholders. I strategized the game logic, motion design, and the interactive experience in the game designed for students in grades 5 – 12 to learn applied math in the real world.

Time: 1:40 – 2:00
12. The United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI)  —  “Art for Climate Action Magazine”
“One Vision” artwork by Rod Sánchez, published in the UNAI magazine
Role:  Visual Artist, Animator
Description:  My artwork, “One Vision” was an Official Selection by the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) for publication in the inaugural “Art for Climate Action” magazine.  The painting “One Vision” (36” x 24” on canvas) depicts global unity among nations in the belief that together, we can build a better world. I created this animation of “One Vision” to raise awareness and to help inspire the dialogue from awareness to global climate action. The virtual magazine can be viewed at: The United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) – Art for Climate Action Magazine.