Stuart Sandler
Interactive Creative Director
Hired January 1998
Background:
Stuart began as a print art director at ad agencies in Florida and then Milwaukee, WI. A font maven, he began developing his own fonts and developed a web page to market them. During the development of the site, Stuart learned more about the possibilities of creating a world within the world and sharing it across the globe. Within a month his web site was receiving over 1,000 hits a week from people all over the world and he found himself more and more obsessed with the idea of digital creation and design. He was hooked.
Education:
- Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Degree in Visual Communications, Minor in Advertising Design
The Next Step:
Stuart gained some attention and soon was fielding freelance interactive creation projects for several companies in addition to his print design work. During this time, Stuart realized he had discovered his true medium. While other artists might work best in clay or oil, Stuart felt most comfortable creating through the Internet. He brought his experience with him to RAA, where he is completely focused on overseeing the agency's interactive creation, conceptualization and design work.
The Early Years:
Stuart grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, with a twin brother, Eric, and an older brother named Adam Sandler (NOT the comic of Saturday Night Live fame). After attending college at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, he worked in Florida for a few years before falling in love with Milwaukee and moving back to the heartland to continue his design work.
Significants:
The Internet has changed more than Stuart's professional life. Through an online personals site, he met Ann with whom he shared a whirlwind romance. They married in 2001 and welcomed their first child, Jackson, in the late summer of 2002. The happy family shares their home with Achilles, a black tabby/Persian beauty born during Hurricane Andrew. The cat's personality is known to be as unpredictable as the hurricane itself.
Interests:
Typeface creation and the exploration of interactive media are definitely still central in Stuart's life activities. He spends many hours on the net, soaking up what's new, what's working, and who's out there. He's taken several trips throughout the United States photographing vintage signage and picking up typographic specimens in his travels. He also likes to cook, and is currently in his 'Cloning American Fare' period, having achieved the perfect Egg McMuffin and the perfect Chi Chi's salsa recipe.
Personna:
Stuart is constantly driven to create and discover while taking time to absorb and enjoy all that life has to offer.