YG15 Showcase: Chad Michael

Shining the spotlight on this year's Young Guns winners

Young Guns 15, arguably the most prestigious portfolio-based competition for creatives under 30, is going out with a bang! This year's winners were unveiled earlier this month, and it's safe to say that this is one of the most eclectically talented classes in Young Guns history. 

This Thursday is the traditional Young Guns ceremony and party, (you've scored your tickets, right?) and nearly all of this year's winners will be travelling from across the globe, across the country, or across the Williamsburg Bridge to attend. Ahead of the festivities, the One Club for Creativity is highlighting many of the winners you'll be able to meet.

CHAD MICHAEL
Graphic Designer
Based In: Dallas, TX
Originally from: Dallas, TX
chadmichaelstudio.com

SEE CHAD'S YG15 PROFILE + WORK

What does winning this award mean to you?

I've aspired to join the prestigious Young Guns family since hearing about the award around 2012. Young Guns is one of the most difficult awards to obtain in the creative industry due to its keen selectiveness and demand for innovative thinking. It's a honor and validation that you are creating work that breaks through the noise and is adding to the evolution of your selected field. This was actually my third and last attempt, as I am now 30, to become a Young Guns winner. I believe over the past year my work has become more diverse and holds more focus on conceptually rather than just being "pretty" which is what may have pushed me over the top.

"Young Guns is one of the most difficult awards to obtain in the creative industry due to its keen selectiveness and demand for innovative thinking. It's a honor and validation that you are creating work that breaks through the noise and is adding to the evolution of your selected field. "

What sorts of challenges have you encountered to get where you are today?

When you are a one-man operation, there are daily challenges but throughout the years a few have stuck out. There’s the challenge to not only become a successful designer but also a businessman; to learn how to spend less time on the finer details in the beginning of a project and learn how to see the larger picture first; and to learn the balance between personal and professional life.

What keeps you going, creatively speaking?

What keeps me going is that next printed piece. Everytime something comes off press or a package design becomes public, it gives me the fuel I need to keep going. Seeing my work come off the screen and into physical form fills me with immense gratification and a sense of calm. It keeps me balanced.

Now that you’re a Young Guns winner, what’s next?

Now that I'm officially in the Young Guns family, I will continue to focus on developing work that I can be proud of and will hopefully continue to create work that steps outside of my comfort zones. Aside from that I hope to take what I've learned over the years and start something new for myself… a personal brand or product that will serve as the next benchmark in my career.

Chad and his fellow winners will be honored at the Young Guns 15 Ceremony + Party, taking place on Thursday, November 16 at Highline Stages in Manhattan's Meatpacking District. 

Young Guns 15 is presented in proud partnership with Shutterstock, Levene/Leavitt and MTV.

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