Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Urdiales.
Hi Jordan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For as long as I can remember, I have always been surrounded by art. Many members of my family are creatives of various disciplines, and every member of my family appreciates the arts deeply. My creative spark definitely ignited at a young age, playing video games and watching anime & cartoons. I began with drawing, which then turned into creating comic books, which then turned into creating videos/animations on YouTube where I would act out all kinds of stories. I think this is where I began to understand that my calling was not just to create various characters and worlds, but to tell their stories as well.
Around age 15, I picked up digital design, teaching myself photoshop and making abstract collage-style pieces within the software. As I continued my journey in digital design, I began to see it as my true passion in life and knew I would pursue it as a career and lifestyle. I studied digital art at East High School in Denver, and then ultimately went on to major in Digital Design at The University of Colorado Denver. Here, my talents and knowledge skyrocketed. I spent everyday passionately honing my skills in design of all kinds, including graphics, 3D Animation, branding, illustration, UX/UI, and more. Being multi-faceted in the field of design brought immense joy to my heart.
It was also at this time that I began freelancing under my brand name “Urdiales Studio”, where I would post graphics and 3D animation projects on YouTube and Instagram. After graduating in 2023 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Digital Design, I have since worked on many incredible projects. As the years go by, I find my deepest passion lies within telling stories through 3D animation and motion design.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am grateful that the road to where I currently stand as an artist and designer has been relatively smooth. Having the constant support of my friends, family, and fellow creative peers has given me the burning drive to continue down this path and strive to be better every day.
That being said, there were definitely struggles I faced along the way. The first struggle I think I came across was imposter syndrome. For a long time I always felt discouraged by the fact that there were millions of people who were better artists, had more funding, had more time, and had a much greater following that I did. However, as I progressed my skills more and more, I began to understand that I will only ever continue to get better, and that the fact that there are always artists more talented than me is actually a huge inspiration. Additionally, I began to understand that my own unique voice and style is something only I can express, and those who appreciate it will find their way to my work over time.
Another notable struggle came with the development of Generative AI. Throughout my education in high school and college, Generative AI was not at a point of relevance where it was talked about at all. After graduating and searching for careers in my field, it became more and more prevalent in the creative world. I was always taught that the modern world was in desperate need of designers and animators, but that statement has definitely lost some meaning as time goes on. More and more positions in my field are dissolving with the rise of AI, and it has led to many layoffs in the creative industry. Despite this, I still have confidence in my abilities and experience to land a career in the field of digital design, even though the process is much more difficult than I have ever anticipated.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Today, despite being a multi-faceted artist, I primarily find myself specializing in 3D Animation as well as brand-centric digital design. I have recently created a lot of 3D animated music videos in collaboration with various musicians which I would love to continue doing. I also recently finished up and Design/Communications internship with the State of Colorado in which I did a lot of graphic design, video, and communication work within brand guidelines.
I am most proud of the work I have produced from late 2025 through today, which mostly included those 3D animations. My favorite piece to date is the “Ponderous Nights” music video I did in collaboration with Pretty Boi Phunk. It took over a year to finish the animation but it definitely showcases my personal style in a way that many people can appreciate.
I think what sets me apart from others is my perspective on my craft. While I will always pursue growth and progress in my abilities, I take pride in the fact that my self expression shines throughout my projects, and that I only strive to be better than the person I was yesterday. I have a wealth of unique and abstract creative ideas and stories that are just waiting to be expressed through design/animation, and they all stem from life experiences, which is something that cannot be replicated by anyone but myself.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
As a creative, I think taking risks is one of the only ways to grow. I’ve been taking risks throughout my entire creative career. I find the best examples to be my exploration of new mediums and new styles. As I mentioned, I’ve specialized in a lot of different forms of art from my childhood drawing to my 3D animations and digital designs as an adult. I was only able to make this transition by exploring new mediums, and trying new things. Early on in college, I was certain that I was most passionate about graphic design. When choosing classes for the semester, I ended up taking a 3D motion design class, which is very similar to 3d animation fundamentally. I ended up absolutely loving everything I learned in that class, and the projects I created throughout it inspired me to continue taking classes around 3D animation. This ended up becoming one of my biggest passions and lead to the development some of my best work.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urdialesstudio
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanurdiales
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@urdialesstudio
