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 I've always loved doing anything and everything creative and always loved challenging my imagination.I was born on February 12, 1990, the same day as good ole Abe Lincoln. My creative ability took over at an early age. It seems like it was yesterday when I would draw dinosaurs on sticker paper, cut them out into small squares and sell them for a quarter during P.E. class. Teachers would often call to my attention that the back of my class work wasn't allowed to be used to draw comics. My twin brother and I would draw comics, and give each other pen tattoos , and I would even write copyright info on my elementary school projects. Growing up I was always in search of new creative outlooks. Reading the comics section of the local newspaper and trying to come up with my own to submit to the newspaper, using Microsoft Paint to create artwork that I'd print and hang around the house like if it was some sort of art gallery, even playing in a band with my two good buddies Alex and Mario and creating short films that we would present to any willing audience. Then came my senior year in high school where I would take my underline passion of creativity and push it into a full time career. Even though my creative ability was in me from an early age, I needed an opportunity to interpret my ability and translate my imagination into reality. That opportunity came from my high school baseball coach, Carlos Marti. Coach Marti came to me and asked me if i could create a website for our school's team. Not knowing anything about what it takes to make a website, I took the challenge and the rest is history. Coach Marti, and his wife Anita Marti opened doors for me that I couldn't open myself and in a pretty rough time in my life gave confidence, guidance, and most importantly something to dream about. My senior year in high school was the stepping stone to the endless possibilities the creative industry has for me. With the help from different elements like the Marti family, the circumstances around me, friends and family, the dream of becoming someone that one day will change the world, and even a little senior year high school crush have motivated me, inspired me, and helped me realize my dreams. Self-teaching myself design fundamentals, color layouts, and using high-end applications like Adobe Flash, Illustrator, and Photoshop all throughout my senior year in high school, I was finally able to start my own freelance marketing and creative solutions company titled "Mike Rodriguez Designs", two months removed from my high school graduation. Yet the greatest value of what I learned my last year in high school is to always be humble, and take opportunities when given. A year later, Mike Rodriguez Designs has come a long way from selling dinosaur stickers for a quarter on the basketball courts of my elementary school , or drawing treasure maps and comics on scrap sheets of paper. I have now learned how to take those chaotic ideas swirling in my head and turn them into strong, clear and inspiring concepts with distinct messages. So whether the final outcome of my project is websites, film, illustrations, logos, music, writing, animations or something in between, I'm always excited about the challenge that a new project brings, and hope to inspire those around the world. I'm currently majoring in web design and interactive media at the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale. I hope you enjoy exploring the messages and stories behind all my projects in this portfolio. Thanks for visiting my site, and take care. 
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