Sean Adams

Respected designer, Sean Adams visited Roski this past February to talk about his journey in the world of art. It was in high school that Adams first realized he had a knack for graphic design. His classmates and teachers turned to him whenever there was a school dance or event so that he could create posters and flyers. Reaching his senior year, Adams was faced with the fate-altering decision to choose to attend Cal Arts over Harvard University. Breaking the news to his family that he would end its legacy at Harvard was no easy task! But Adams knew that if he ignored his true calling he would regret it for the rest of his life. Getting up on his own two feet wasn't a walk in the park, but founding his own design firm, AdamsMorioka (now based in Beverly Hills, California), with his good college friend Noreen Morioka, was just the beginning. Sean and Noreen faced a sea of criticism and resistance when they introduced a cleaner, crisper, more modern approach to popular design methods. But their unwavering faith that they were on to something brilliant is what got them noticed. Two large projects Adams took on include rebranding The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and designing the core of his friend's project on the "ugliest Mexican Restaurant." Some of his clients today are Disney, Nickelodeon, and USC. In addition, Adams has served as the President for AIGA and now gives back to the community by teaching design. To wrap up, Sean Adams talked about the 3 F's he has based his career choices on: Fame, Fortune, and Fun. He believes that whatever it is that people choose to do in life, two out of the three F's must be the outcomes in order to truly be happy. To learn more about AdamsMorioka, visit http://www.adamsmorioka.com/.