Sebastian Baptiste
Art Director / Experiential Design
Los Angeles, CA
www.sebastianbaptiste.com
instagram @sebastianbaptiste
youtube
Q What do you do?
“I’m an art director and multidisciplinary designer with over a decade of experience in experiential design, building immersive worlds and designing sets for brands, artists, and cultural platforms.”
I create physical environments for campaigns, interactive installations, and immersive experiences—using scenery, furniture, props, color, scale, lighting, and architectural details to establish mood and support storytelling. My work blends technology, sound, and visuals across digital and physical spaces, living at the intersection of design, music, and spatial experience.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
Consistently making work, documenting it, and saying yes before I felt “ready” did most of the heavy lifting. I started working in fashion design and kept learning different design tools. I took on freelance event projects while working full-time. Over time, I leaned into experiential work, producing events, designing visuals and promotional materials while collaborating with production teams. I built my own projects (like DJ-led immersive events and installations), which opened doors to larger platforms like REVOLT, Spotter, and The Cutting Room Floor.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I think in systems and worlds, not just assets. I’m comfortable moving between strategy and execution, between a moodboard and a floor plan, a brand deck and a physical build. I also prototype fast using 3D, motion, and AI, which helps collaborators see ideas early and make better decisions sooner.
Q What are you working on right now?
I’m developing new experiential concepts that merge live music, spatial design, and storytelling, expanding my personal art practice (including textile-based 3D motion graphics and installation work), and collaborating with media and brand teams on immersive content. I’m also laying groundwork for a creative studio focused on experiential and cultural work.
Q What’s your style?
I’m drawn to contrast: tranquil spaces with bold sound, minimal forms with emotional weight. My style is immersive, tactile, and atmospheric—often built with bold patterns, deep colors, and a calm but intentional mood. I love expanding the world a client’s brand already lives in, then translating it into a new format that feels fresh, unexpected, and pushes the brand forward without losing what makes it recognizable. Projects like this 3D motion work and Liminal Spaces—my installation-driven DJ video —capture my personal style, while a project like The Spotter Showcase and Revolt World show my approach to a client project.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
Art direction and leading large-scale experiential and immersive direction, focusing more on the spatial concept and supervising the build and execution rather than being hands-on in the day-to-day production.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Bandwidth. Balancing client work, personal projects, and long-term creative development means updating my portfolio with new work and actually sharing it consistently on socials often ends up falling to the bottom of the list.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Production support: organizing files, prepping decks, light research, scheduling, documenting projects, and editing build videos into social-ready content.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
Fifteen years ago: Make the thing first. You don’t need permission, perfect gear, or a title, momentum creates clarity.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Scaling experiential work sustainably through stronger budgeting, production workflows, and turning creative concepts into repeatable, high-quality systems. I have a solid process in place, but learning from someone with deeper experience and trusted contacts for supplies and collaborators is always a huge advantage, especially since every new project comes with new challenges.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Experiential design, set design, brand design and consulting, creative direction, installations, cultural programming, immersive media, and long-term collaborations with brands, studios, or cultural institutions.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
A client or collaborative team that values craft, trusts creative leadership, and is open to experimentation. My best experiences have been with partners who see design as a strategic tool, not just decoration, and invite me in early in the process. Working with a brand pushing avant-garde design that blends high fashion with art, technology, and unexpected experiences would be ideal.
Q: What is your rate?
* Creative direction & experiential concepts typically start at $5,000–$10,000+, depending on scope
* Full experiential or installation projects range $15,000–$50,000+
* Hourly consulting/design: $100–$150/hr
Open to adjusted scopes for artists, cultural orgs, and experimental projects.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Email or Instagram DM is great. Include a quick intro, project goals, timeline, budget range, and references. Bonus points for clarity and yes, a good GIF never hurts.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Sattom Alasad — Incredible material-driven design and spatial thinking.
Jaade Wills — Experiential Creative Director, Installations, Events
David Maxwell — Creative Director with an amazing eye
Recho Omondi —
Thoughtful, culture-forward work that blends fashion, conversation, and community.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Research. Travel. Listen. Build. Reflect. Repeat.
This member profile was originally published in January 2026.