Vernon F. Robinson II brings over two decades of experience in the creative industry, with expertise spanning project management, brand and product development, illustration, logo design, and graphic apparel design.
After earning his degree from Columbia College Chicago in 2000, Vernon relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to launch his design career. At the time, widespread corporate hiring freezes made it difficult to land a design role, but he pivoted and secured a position as a Tech and Print Specialist at a Fortune 100 company.
Fueled by his entrepreneurial spirit and creative drive, Vernon began freelancing as a graphic designer and launched his own t-shirt line, AFDK Clothing. Within months, his designs gained national attention, being featured in Conde Nast’s Cargo Magazine, on BET’s 106 & Park, MTV’s TRL, and a national Budweiser commercial. His tees were worn by acclaimed artists including Gordon Chambers, Chocolate, N’Dambi, Dwele, Bilal, and Mos Def.
In 2005, Vernon returned to Chicago and continued his design work and clothing line while expanding into education. He began writing arts-focused curricula and taught arts and entrepreneurship programs for youth. One major success from this initiative was the release of two published works: Expressions of the Soul: Inside the Mind of a Poem, which included a DVD produced by Avenue Edit, and a children’s poetry book titled I Don’t Want to Grow Up. Both received enthusiastic praise from readers, educators, and media outlets. The student authors went on to tour as paid motivational speakers, received top honors in their school district, and were featured on NBC Chicago.
In 2013, Vernon launched Battle of the Tees, a blog and annual competition that brings together top graphic designers and local independent brands. The event serves as a platform to provide creatives with increased visibility, community support, and recognition.
Recognizing the value of in-house production, Vernon established A Maker and a Gentleman, a prototyping and manufacturing extension of Robinson Creative. The venture allows for full product development from concept to full production orders under one roof.
3 Questions + 4 Answers
What makes great design?
I am a fan of clean, simple yet thought provoking design.
What has life taught you?
Always keep pushing forward; there will always be a breakthrough.
If you leave food out overnight, never rollover, eat it, then jump on a plane.
What do you do in your free time?
Watch movies, hang out with friends and family, and surf the web for new, innovative designs.