Jonathan Caleb "Jon Rodz" Rodriguez is a visual designer, user experience designer, and current student at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), class of 2025. Adobe awarded Jon an Adobe Design Circle Scholarship. He is 1 of 10 international Scholars for 2021.
As a young professional designer with an entrepreneurial spirit, Jon Rodz desires to design thoughtful business solutions to improve trust in user experiences for products and services across the tech, creative, and education industry. At the same time, mentoring and staying connected with young Latinos interested in design. In an industry where Latinos are underrepresented, Jon believes he will make a difference in driving design innovation and systems inclusive of his culture.
Born and raised deep in the heart of Texas! Growing up on the West Side of San Antonio, I always envisioned making a living as an artist or just living a life that was creative. I was inspired by the stories I saw and the struggles I lived through.
Being raised by a single mother of three, wanting the very best for my present and future, she brought home a brochure for SAY Si. Pfft SAY Si, that’s going in the trash. Guess what was on the counter the next day?
Yup, that crumbled up SAY Si brochure. I joined SAY Si, a tuition-free, after-school art program for economically disadvantaged youth in San Antonio.
My SAY Si Instructors and my now lifelong mentors, Stevan Živadinović, Ned Meneses, and Rick Stemm, showed me that being creative is more than just being an artist.
Being creative is being an Animator, a Game Developer, an Illustrator, and even a Web Designer. But how do I find my creative path? With courage and a lot of trial and error (I mean a lot), I sailed right into uncharted creative territory.
I not only discovered I didn't want to be an artist, but I also discovered my passion for being a leader, working with people, and being an entrepreneur. Switching schools Junior year to CAST Tech was the jump start to committing to my creative path; Web and UX Design.
Student, Freelancer, Web / UX Designer that's a title, right? I am graduating class of 2021, eager to learn and willing to solve complex problems creatively.
If there's a will, there's a way.
I imagine a world where people wake up feeling thoughtful and end the day trusting in themselves and the community they're in.