    
|
FABIAN GEYRHALTER
GEYHALTER DESIGN
Fabian Geyrhalter was born and raised in Vienna, Austria. He attended Art Center (Europe) and graduated from Art Center College of Design. Prior to founding his own firm, Geyrhalter acted as creative director for Insyght, developing corporate identity and collateral projects for clients such as Pfizer. He later served as the creative lead at the interactive design leader Genex, overseeing the emerging online advertising account for Acura Automotives. Combining his interests for branding, print and interactive media, Geyrhalter founded Geyrhalter Design in 2004, under the promise to create brand atmospheres that inspire, compel, seduce and communicate new approaches. Geyrhalter has received recognition by international publications and organizations such as The International Academy of the Visual Arts, Graphis, The Hong Kong Poster Triennial, Print and AIGA, and has lectured at Art Center College of Design, USC and UCLA. Geyrhalter Design's clients include The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, MGM, USC, John Varvatos and Konami.
Was graphic design your first career path?
I got into design by accident. I was planning an after-concert party for the British electronic band Depeche Mode when I was 17. It was supposed to be a small thing, but then the record label got involved, and suddenly I was interviewed on the radio. I had more than 1,000 people at the event and made my first "big bucks." My event budget was minimal, so I created the brand, collateral and all the advertisements. Although I was not quite aware that it was graphic design, I really consider that as the starting point. When it was time to decide on which university to attend, I was side-tracked by a possible sponsorship as a professional snowboarder and an interview to become a radio host, but I ultimately decided to study design. I could not have made a better choice.
Where do you turn for inspiration?
I grab the iPod, get into my car, open the sunroof and drive without a destination in mind. I've noticed that most ideas come to me in places where I really can't take notes — in the shower or in the car. It rarely happens in the office in front of a blank screen or a white piece of paper.
What is your worst habit?
Things around me tend to shake, since one leg, foot or toe is in constant motion when I am at work. I guess work excites me.
Should graphic design be an instrument for positive social change?
Yes, it should, but I also know that it's a very personal decision. We are part of an organization called 1% for the Planet, which is an alliance of companies that donate one percent of their sales to environmental organizations worldwide. That way I feel assured that every dollar we earn does make a difference, even if the project does not create positive change.
We further focus a majority of our design and branding efforts on benefitting the community at large. We just created the branding and the print collateral for Noche de Niños, Children's Hospital Los Angeles' star-studded benefit event, where $4.1 million was raised for Los Angeles' most seriously ill children. Other recent projects include partnerships with the Emmy-winning Public Interest for the development of the STAND UP website for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, launched on Oprah, which calls for change in the American education system. We also did the creative and the interactive development for WhatIsGay.net, which aims to break down stereotypes about gay relationships.
In addition to the interactive work, we recently completed the brochure for the Legacy Society of the California Community Foundation, one of the largest and most active philanthropic organizations in California. Currently we are working with the City of Los Angeles on creating the strategy, branding, website and advertising campaign for the L.A. Metro Task Force on Human Trafficking.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|