Adam Campau
Q What do you do?
“I’m a Product and Brand Designer, bringing product concepts and brand identities to life through creative problem-solving.”
I basically act as a middleman between the product or business concept you have in your head and real life. I turn ideas into tangible, delightful realities.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
Firstly and foolishly, I pursued a degree in Chemical Engineering, but after two years it became evident that calculus and I were fundamentally at odds on what ""makes sense"". My passion for problem-solving however, remained strong, leading me to find my true calling, and I ended up getting dual degrees in Industrial Design and Marketing.
My valuable background in 3D modeling and CAD skills which I gained during my brief time in STEM, is the foundation of my craft. These skills transferred directly to product design, allowing me to seamlessly blend my knowledge of industrial processes, mechanics, and materials science with creativity and strategy to make smarter design decisions.
Since then, I've immersed myself in continuous learning, mastering programs like Blender, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, and other essential tools for 2D and 3D creation, unlocking new dimensions of creativity and photorealism in my product presentations.
Beyond academics, I've been in the start-up space since 2017. Working closely with a wide variety of small businesses over the years, I've contributed to their growth with my designs, branding, and marketing expertise.
My ultimate goal is to find delightful and innovative solutions in every project, creating designs that leave a lasting impact.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I believe the combination of my technical and artistic skills set me aside as a designer. As a product and brand designer, I have honed my creative problem-solving skills and developed my eye for aesthetics. Thanks to my initial background in technical disciplines such as engineering, coding, and related scientific fields, I approach design challenges with a functional perspective, resulting in more innovative product solutions.
Q What are you working on right now?
Currently, I'm actively seeking collaborations and freelance opportunities in product and branding design.
If you're looking to move forward on a concept project, need assistance with your branding, need existing product ideation, or anything you think may be relevant to those things, I'm eager to contribute my expertise and creativity.
Q What’s your style?
If a wad of cash was miraculously dropped in my lap today, one of the many potentially inadvisable things I would do is bring Spaceship Earth Coffee Company to life.
It's everything I could ever want: good coffee, socialist business practices, and vintage comics.
You can see it here on my website.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Consumer product design.
Consumer projects tend to have more start-up costs, meaning larger projects are rare, but I absolutely adore the ideation and creation process. I find genuine excitement in crafting the most clever solutions within the constraints of the project brief.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Posting on your personal social media is THE WORST. I am very opinionated on this topic. Similar to many others on this site, modern social media is the bane of my existence.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
^see above^
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I would go back to second grade me, who was dreaming about being an inventor. I would tell him, “Follow your instincts, never forget that creating things makes you feel alive, and you’re gonna get there, kid!”
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I would ask how they approach each stage of a design project. Where they start their conception, research, ideation, testing, and how they determine when a project is complete.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I am seeking opportunities in product design, 3D modeling, branding, packaging design, and any related media creation.
If you have a furniture project in mind, need branding or product development, or would like to chat about design, please reach out! I would love to explore potential solutions with you!
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal collaboration would involve working with a client as passionate as I am about finding clever and exciting design solutions. I thrive when I can prioritize creativity, functionality, and user delight in projects— whether this is a physical product or a service brand, that attitude when creating results in the finest projects.
Separately but related, I have a range of consumer products ready for potential investor consideration (most focused on kitchen-related items, as I am an avid cook and am writing a cookbook in my free time) from an array of disciplines including kitchen hardware and utensils, textiles, games, and much more.
I'm open to discussing these opportunities with anyone who is interested and happy to explore these concepts and how they could align with your investment goals.
Q What is your rate?
I have a $65/hr base rate, but with branding, sketching, modeling, and rendering, each project is unique. Please reach out with a simple scope of your project/budget and I will get back to you with a custom quote ASAP.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
If you want to work with me, please email me at adam@acidesign.studio!
Please include a general outline of your project, including:
- The type of work needed (Product/Rendering/Branding/Packaging/etc.)
- Your preferred timeline for the project
- Any relevant info that is already known on your project brief deliverables, needs, or wants.
Once that's done, we will schedule a call and get the ball rolling!
P.S. Please don't be afraid to reach out if you don't have a specific project in mind. I would love to chat with any artist, craftsperson, or really any person with an idea they think is interesting.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Alissa Martin - my lovely partner of many years.
Hannah Holland of the Creative Juice Box Podcast. Excellent advice, interesting perspectives, fantastic photography!
Danny Jacobs - an absolutely brilliant graphic designer and a pleasure to work with.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Absorb everything. Inspiration is everywhere.
This member profile was originally published in September 2023