Today we’d like to introduce you to Brando Zellars.
Hi Brando, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m originally from Pendleton, SC. My love for art started there in preschool at Clemson Montessori. So as most creatives would say, I have been artistically inclined from day one. Fast forward to high school – I attended the Myrtle Beach Academy of Arts, Science, and Technology, where my time became consumed with skateboarding, music, and screen printing. That experience was my “gateway drug” to an art obsession. From there, I enrolled at SCAD in Savannah, GA, majoring in the Film and TV program, stoking the flames even more. Once I graduated, I immediately moved to New York and got to work in the industry. After a few years, I realized that line of work wasn’t for me and needed to change career paths. Through a string of fortunate events, a good friend introduced me to the wonderful world of graphic design. I found myself back in school to learn the trade. Afterward, I moved to the graphic design holy land of Austin, TX, where I landed my first job as a Junior Designer. During this time, I also started freelancing. I picked and moved again to Minneapolis, MN, to work with my design idol, Aesthetic Apparatus, before finally making my way back to SC.
Now back home, I landed a job here in Greenville with Clemson University’s MBA program. I worked for Clemson MBA as their Creative Director of marketing for five years. During my time there, I started Defender Creative Studio. Also, during that time, I met two amazing people who would become the Defender team’s counterparts. In 2021 I resigned from Clemson and took the lead of faith into self emplacement to focus on Defender full time. So here I am today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My leap into entrepreneurship started smoothly before I quickly realized there was a learning curve I was unprepared for. The first year was mostly me learning what I didn’t know I didn’t know about operating a small business. It’s competitive out there, so my initial struggles stemmed from not understanding how the game is played. Another issue for Defender was and still is, visibility in the marketplace. We had to figure out how to navigate the noise to be noticed by our target community. We are a small company amongst some heavy hitters here in town, so figuring out ways to posture, network, and build a consistent client base is something Defender continues to develop. We are starting to see the payoff.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The Defender was created as an excuse to live out my passions every day. As a creative studio, we specialize in illustrative design and brand identity. We make cool stuff for cool folks. I wholeheartedly love working with brands; whether it’s creating an identity from the ground up or designing a badass t-shirt for a merch line, or even painting murals, I love it all. I’m proud of the opportunity to work with local businesses and the upstate community. It makes me feel like Defender is a part of something greater, a part of Greenville’s history, and that makes my heart smile. I’m honored because my goal is to positively impact my home by sharing what I’m most passionate about design. Defender is not boring! Our company ethos is “Make fun of what you do.” I blame it on how we (the Defender team) grew up. In our youth, we were labeled “Counter Culture” and wore that label as a badge of honor; now, it is called “normal.” Our aesthetic brings an edge and style that pays homage to the true industry rebels of the days before plug-and-play apps or copy-and-paste designers. We make our stuff from scratch and strive to create work that’s timeless despite what’s trending. What sets us apart is that we truly care about Greenville and make that abundantly clear through our work. We also are truly obsessed with the craft – We bleed it.
We love surprises, fun facts, and incredible stories. Can you share something that might surprise us?
Most likely, everything from this interview. But more seriously, my age and that I’m classically trained on the violin.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.defendermade.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defendercreativestudio/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brando-zellars-950377262/
Image Credits
Rony Rivera, Oscar Reyes
