The freelance creative director, Adrian Rubin has been building his dream career as a creative person working to extend his work in New York City and across the U.S. Rubin has become one of the leading figures in the creative design industry after building a freelance business which allows him to develop his work on many different levels. After completing his college studies in the liberal arts, Adrian Rubin made his way to Brooklyn, New York where he began working to make contacts and network with companies he hoped to turn into clients. In recent years, Rubin has become one of the top creative directors in the U.S. spending his time working with various companies including TV and movie producers, and marketing professionals to develop brands in the age of the “Internet of Things.”
What do you do?
As a creative director, I find myself working with different companies and groups who use my skills for a variety of various reasons. Many of my clients expect me to make sure a specific project or aspect of a broader piece of work remains within the boundaries of the overall creative view they have already developed. Some clients come to me hoping to use my skills to form a more comprehensive creative aspect of their brand which allows me more freedom to express myself creatively.
How long have you been in business?
I have been in this business for over a decade now in New York after arriving in Brooklyn after completing my college studies. At first, I was looking for a full-time job with an advertising or marketing company, but I quickly settled into my career as a freelancer which I have come to love for its ever-changing nature.
Are there any unique challenges in your industry?
Wow! As a freelancer, you come to expect the unexpected as clients can come at you with any request, no matter how outlandish. Remaining on a budget is always an issue as my clients tend to come back to me throughout a project as they feel I will help make any idea come to life.
Do you have any particular challenges that you personally address?
I do work with others, but I always remain in overall creative control of the projects I accept for my business. Every challenge faced is addressed by me at some stage no matter how small it may be. In many ways, I often feel more like a project manager than a creative director during many of my working days.
Is your industry growing, shrinking or remaining the same?
Growing. When I first started looking for freelance creative work more in New York City more than a decade ago, there was little understanding of brands and corporate image. As the Internet and social media platforms grow in importance for marketing the work available for creative directors is increasing across all platforms as branding continues to be the most critical part of building a successful business.
How does technology impact your company?Have you ever been to Miami?
Technology is all-important to my company and my clients as they want instant access to my work using email, messenger apps, and Dropbox where they can leave messages and review my work in a digital environment.
I have been to Miami for both pleasure and business. I think my first visit was around six years ago and I’ve been back a few times since then to meet clients and enjoy the expanding culture of the area.
What part of Miami?
Some of my clients are based in the Wynwood Arts District which is a part of Miami I enjoy visiting and spending time in. I love the galleries, and different restaurants in the district which I feel is how I expected Miami to be before my first visit.
Did you visit any particular locations including restaurants?
There is a lot I enjoy in the Wynwood District including the Panther Coffee shop which has some of the most robust and most aroma-filled brews imaginable. On my first visit to Miami, a client took me to Joey’s Italian Cafe for the specialty thin crust pizza I enjoyed.
Would you come back?
I have been back to Miami, and I will be coming back on many occasions, I hope. There is so much culture to enjoy I believe I could take many trips to this beautiful city and not feel I had seen everything I wished to explore.
Was it a business or pleasure trip?
My first trip to Miami was a business trip, but I have visited twice for pleasure in recent years and numerous other times for business. Whenever I head to Florida to work with clients, particularly in the entertainment industry, I try to get at least a few days in Miami to meet clients and network.
Where do you see yourself or business in 5 years?
My business is still expanding, and I’m hoping to explore the opportunities open to me in technology. Recently, I have been involved in marketing and branding companies working with the “Internet of Things,” and I believe this is going to be an area of enormous growth for me to explore in the next five years.