Chris Degaetano is a graphic designer from Wake Forest, North Carolina, currently studying at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. As an upcoming senior majoring in Graphic Design with a minor in UI/UX, Chris blends creative vision with technical skill to craft compelling visual experiences.
Outside the studio, he’s passionate about music and stays active through baseball, track, and training in the gym. Chris is especially interested in designing for the music, sports, and entertainment industries, where he hopes to bring bold, energetic visuals to life.
If you are viewing my portfolio and enjoy my work, please check me out on instagram @tano_dsgn, I would really appreciate the support! To any potential clients or collaborators I will link my resume and portfolio below.
Resume.pdf
Portfolio.pdf
- Cutlass
- The Commons
- Rap Currency
- Fender Personas
- PIT-26
- Instant Crush Lyric Video
- Bell Centennial Brochure
- Assorted Motion Graphics
For this project, I designed the rollout for an album, media campaign, and overall art direction for a rap duo called Cutlass Crew. The campaign featured bold, over-the-top pink branding and incorporated various creative elements. I explored photography in depth, including directing poses, designing outfits for the shoots, and arranging studio lighting setups. This hands-on experience was a refreshing departure from my usual desk work, which typically involves staring at a screen. Working on Cutlass challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and inspired me to experiment with new creative mediums.
The Commons is a imagined high-end fashion brand dedicated to reclaiming shared resources. The Commons have a mission to advocate for environmental justice and equitable access to natural resources like water, air, and energy. Each collection serves as a reminder that the Earth belongs to everyone, and everyone can make a difference.
The goal of the brand would be to produce high-end clothing using sustainable materials that would be marketed at a substantial price point. Each collection would be exclusive and a percentage of their profits would be donated towards helping communities that are struggling resourcefully.
The Logo
The Commons primary logo is characterized as a chandelier. Chandelier’s highlight economic disparity. The ability to invest in such a non-essential luxury item contrasts sharply with the struggles of those focused solely on necessities, illustrating a visible divide between socioeconomic classes. This symbolism resonates deeply with The Commons cause that everybody non-dependent of social class deserve basic resources to live, and to expose people in power who take advantage of those less fortunate.
In the rap music genre, only a select few artists demonstrate the dedication and influence required to achieve significant success. This unique currency honors these artists with their own denominations, aiming to better support the music industry while eliminating additional costs imposed by venues, such as entry fee surcharges. Consistency across the currency design is maintained through cohesive elements like color, typography, and iconography that reflect the essence of rap music and the background of each artist.
Through blender, I designed a 3D interactive space that showcases the culture of a underground cyberpunk boxing gym set in the far future. The visual 'gritty yet in your face' visual aesthetic of cyberpunk has always stood out to me and has inspired lots of my work as a graphic designer, so having the opportunity to create something that allowed me to explore the intersection of both technology and human interaction within a confined space, was personally compelling yet challenging.
To explore the 3D space click the link: https://newart.city/show/pit-26