ABOUT

A Business Built on Purpose:

I’m Andrew, the person behind Funk Rabbit, Ink.  FRI is a company, but as the name suggests, it’s something a little different.  Ink refers to the creative mediums themselves, but it also means an alternative way of thinking about ‘incorporated’ – not simply as a business, but a way of life.

Inspired in part by the Japanese concept, Ikigai, which roughly translates to “a reason for waking”, FRI was invented to maximize time spent on meaningful work, by combining my deepest passions with my greatest skills.  This may sound simple, but for some, their Ikigai may take an entire lifetime to find.  The idea is not just that your work is enjoyable, or you are good at it, or it pays well, or it’s a positive force in the world… it demands all of them at once.

Pursuing this idea started as publishing an adult coloring book about the Pacific coastal ecosystem and exhibiting the book and 35mm film photography at the Topanga Studio Tour, an art festival in Los Angeles.  Today, it still represents my independent work and also the work I do with clients.  They are one and the same and that means my experience goes beyond a full-time gig and has given me the time and fuel to become skilled at multiple disciplines.

This ethos works its way into how I think and do business.  I’m not just helping companies tell their story or make more money, I’m helping them pursue their dreams.

Process Informed by Experience:

Over the past 20 years, working across engineering, operations, branding, photography and production has shaped a process that blends strategic thinking with creative execution.  That experience has shaped my creative process, which is built around two core principals:

1. Design with the final application in mind from day 1.

After running the art department for a promotional branding company and editing tens of thousands of files, I can tell you most designers and photographers do not offer or know how to create production-ready art files.  Even fewer companies know what to do with the files they provide.  This creates needless back and forth between vendors, the potential cost of further editing and at worst, unprofessional looking branding assets that looked good on screen but don’t translate to the real world.  By understanding the final application up front, I eliminate one of the most common issues companies deal with when working with creatives.

2. Understand the destination before creating.

Something I’ve learned over time is that words alone are insufficient at conveying a client’s vision.  Before designing anything, I guide clients through a visual decision-making process that helps us identify not only what resonates, but what doesn’t and why.  Because we’ve already aligned on the direction before any design work begins, the creative process becomes dramatically more focused. The result is fewer revisions, better communication and a first presentation that’s often remarkably close to the finished solution.

Should we work together?

While not limited to any specific industry, I’m drawn to businesses that value originality, craftsmanship and meaningful work.  The projects that excite me most are built by people who care deeply about what they create and want their work to have a positive impact.

There will always be a need for quick creative solutions, but Funk Rabbit, Ink exists for the moments when a business wants to slow down, understand what makes them unique and create something that genuinely represents who they are.

If this sounds like the kind of creative partnership you’re looking for, I’d love to hear from you.  Thanks for taking the time to learn more about Funk Rabbit, Ink.