Ramon Gomez

Ramon Gomez never imagined that he’d make a career by designing wedding invitations for brides-to-be. He fell into the industry by chance while earning his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of California, Irvine. Needing a part time job, Ramon applied at the 24 Hour Fitness, as well as Elements, the very cool stationery store right next to the gym. Fate stepped in when Elements hired him first. With limited skills, his only ability was to ring up customers, do an occasional gift wrap and assemble custom invitations. After being submersed in a world full of paper creativity, he moved up the ranks to become Elements lead designer. Four years later, he hung up his retail hat and began designing for Envelopments.

How did you get into the stationery industry?
I fell into the industry by accident. I needed a part-time job while I was an undergrad studying Studio Art at the University of California, Irvine. So I applied at 24 Hour Fitness and Elements, a stationery store near the campus. Based on my “creative” resume, Elements hired me to work the cash register, wrap an occasional gift and assemble custom invitations. I moved up the ranks and eventually became the lead designer. Once I graduated, I hung up my retail hat, said good-bye to Bridezilla, and began designing for Envelopments.

Where do you find inspiration?
I shop. If there was a consumer Olympics, I’d definitely take home the gold. There’s something about the way products are packaged, merchandized and marketed. I’m a sucker every time. I’m the guy that gets the same shirt in 4 different colors, just because it looked so good as a collection. When I shop, I prefer to go alone. There’s a lot of visual stimulation in a well-designed store and I want to make sure that my senses are open to soaking it all in. It’s no secret that clothing and home décor affect design trends, so I try to stay current by shopping, even if it’s just window-shopping.

Rumor has it that television rots your brain, but I like to have it on in the background when I’m designing from home. Every now and then, I’ll hear a line that can evoke the irreverent tone of a 40th birthday card, or the tenderness of a birth announcement. Sometimes I’ll even look at wedding cakes or bridal gowns and try to imagine what the invitation would look like for that event.

What’s your design philosophy?
I’m all about unexpected subtlety and balance (not to be confused with symmetry, I love the look of being off-kilter).  If I put on slacks and a collared shirt, I’ll rock lizard skin cowboy boots (okay, maybe not-so-subtle) and roll up my sleeve to show a hint of the tattoo on my forearm. When I design, I’ll balance the traditional look of an invitation against modern copy, or mix together funky colors with elegant artwork.

Spotted: Ramon at the Hennessey + Ingalls bookstore in Santa Monica. I like to deconstruct trends that I find in books and magazines so that I can add a twist. It’s always great to invent something completely new, but sometimes you don’t need to recreate the wheel. Sometimes, you can just add some details and make it your own. I’ll walk into West Elm to see how I can translate a bedroom design into an invitation ensemble. A stranger might catch my eye and inspire me with her courage to pair that belt with those heels. As cliché as it sounds, inspiration can really be found anywhere, it’s just about harnessing your creativity to make it work for you.

If you weren’t designing for Envelopments, what would you be doing?
Even if I weren’t working with paper, I’d still have to do something creative with my hands. (Not drawing or painting trust me, I’ve tried). I’m a big foodie and have always wanted to go to culinary school. When you think about it, I guess cooking isn’t so different from creating custom invitations—layering flavor profiles, considering visual appeal, and staying within a budget.

If Envelopments were to relocate to another location, where would you want it to be?
I’ve lived in California since I was two years old and I definitely can’t complain about the weather. But if I was sent somewhere to open a satellite branch, I’d love to try living in New York. I visit the Big Apple once a year for the National Stationery Show and to visit family. The energy is unique, and I can create a 9 to 5 just people watching. There’s so much more opportunity for interaction in the city than there is sitting in my car on the freeway, stuck in rush hour traffic. If you ever run into me on the west coast (or even in New York), stop and bend my ear. Affect the way I view the world through design. Inspire me.

What’s your biggest vice?
When it comes to design, I’m a huge font freak. I lust for letters. The right combination of fonts can really set the tone for the event. With letterpress making a comeback, I’m seeing a bunch of great typographic designs.