Portfolio of Wes Stäbler
After high school, I moved to Atlanta to study studio art at Georgia State University, despite my parents' pleas to choose a major more likely to lead to employment upon graduation. Things went great at first, and I learned so much. But before long, I began to worry about what I might someday do for money.
Post sophomore slump, during a period of soul-searching and "not colleging", a friend taught me Photoshop and Illustrator. I became obsessed with creating digital art, particularly vector illustrations. From my classes at GA State, I had a decent foundation in 2D design and illustration. I began researching typography and Gestalt Principles and quickly decided I needed more formal training.
I found my passion, and I'd become a dad. I enrolled in the Art Institute of Atlanta. Despite the legal trouble and eventual closing of the school, I made certain to get a good education. I had some great instructors, and I began to blossom as a designer. After school, I worked as a graphic designer for a marketing startup, I taught design basics to men in a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, partnered with innovators in the EdTech space to design numerous educational products, and after a decade in the industry, I became Creative Director for a national conglomerate, where I guided the brand development of all of its subsidiaries for five years.
After school, I worked as a graphic designer for a marketing startup, I taught design basics to men in a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, partnered with innovators in the EdTech space to design numerous educational products, and after a decade in the industry, I became Creative Director for a national conglomerate, where I guided the brand development of all of its subsidiaries for five years. I'm currently freelancing and seeking full-time employment.
The story goes like this... Nearly ten years ago, at the Five Points MARTA Station, as I dodged some pigeons to board my train, I bumped into a beautiful Mexican who brightened the whole train car like it was holy, just like she would brighten my life from that day forward.
She was lost and didn't speak much English, but lucky for me, I'd been speaking it most of my life. I also got a B in Spanish II in high school, so I pointed at the map and asked, "Aqui?" She nodded and gestured for me to ride with her to ensure she got there safely. I knew just enough Spanish to make her laugh, learn her name (Fabiola "Fabi" Ibarra Hernandez), get her number, and ask her out.
The beginning of our relationship was a bit unclear, with much being lost in translation. She was in the US as an au pair, and due to her overly strict boss, we saw each other on weekends, but could only speak over the phone on weekdays. Since we didn't speak the same language, there was a lot of guessing involved. I'd fallen in love at the MARTA station, and after some convincing, so did she
Two years after our train ride, on a sweltering August day, Fabi and I got married. The location was North Georgia, in an abandoned barn that we converted into an abandoned barn with xmas lights. Our friends and family were there, sweating bullets for us on our special day. Afterwards, we honeymooned in New Jersey and Mexico. We have a six-year-old daughter named Luisa Regina Stäbler Ibarra, a geriatric dog named Dexter, and a cat named Miss Terticles (born Mr. Tickles).
