Capitol Communicator is running “Up Close and Personal” profiles of communicators in the mid-Atlantic. In this profile we feature Antonio Alcalá. Photography for the series is by Cade Martin, wardrobe styling by Pascale Lemaire and Sybil Street for THE Artist Agency; and hair and makeup by Patti D Nelson, Janice Kinigopoulos and Lori Pressman for THE Artist Agency.
Antonio, please provide us a short bio.
Co-owner, Studio A; Art Director, USPS Stamp Development; and Faculty, MICA, MFA Graphic Design
Are you involved in any other organizations?
I’m involved in AIGA, the professional association for design, along with teaching design for the past 30 years.
What are the things you are most proud of?
I’m most proud of – and grateful for – my family.
Who were your personal role models?
My personal role models were my mother for raising three boys on her own and still pursuing her own interests; my grandparents for showing me a loving stable home and partnership; my brothers for showing ways to navigate the world in positive ways; teachers, including my first design instructor, Philip Burton, for showing how to help others learn; and my wife Helen for teaching me how to be a good parent and how to work as a team.
Did your role models offer professional advice that helped you in your career?
No specific professional advice was ever given, unfortunately. Unspoken lesson learned is to approach your job with respect and integrity.
What professional advice do you have for others?
Make time to help others. It will help your own career in both tangible and intangible ways.
What’s on your Spotify and Pandora playlists?
Hah! I drive one daughter and others crazy because I will listen to anything and everything, almost. I listen to a lot of different kinds of music. In the office we listen to KEXP. Lately, I’ve also been listening to a lot of Delta Blues.
What’s your favorite restaurant?
It’s not exactly my favorite restaurant, but my favorite restaurant “experience” is, when the weather is nice, walking with my wife and daughters to the Chart House on the river, getting a table outside, and enjoying the view of the water and their company for an hour or so. Heaven!
Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?
If you send me your address, I’ll send you a postcard with a stamp I designed. I promise!
Wow, I use and enjoy the Hearts Blossom stamp. Yesterday the original love stamp designer passed away. My search lead here and I am very grateful to learn of a man who is very talented, well rounded, accomplished and respectful of family. It would be special mail to receive a postcard, as mentioned…but I realize its been a couple of years. Bon chance.