Alejandro Rizo never imagined that his degrees would lead him to fall in love with graphic design. Nor that a borrowed camera would open the door to photography. But that's how it all began. In Medellín, Colombia, when he only wanted to advertise his group of titles, he discovered that his passion lay in visual communication. "Design gave me three turns and sat me down. It said, 'This is your thing,'" he recalls.
With years of experience working in Colombia's universities, lithography, and telecommunications companies, Alejandro built a solid career before migrating to the United States. It wasn't easy. The language, the culture, and the uncertainty pushed him to start from scratch, first in Washington, DC, and then in Minnesota. "I didn't find my way around English. However, a year after studying at the Washington English Center, I was already working there as a graphic designer. That was an important transition for me."
His story is not only that of a migrant but an artist who refuses to give up his calling. Although he has had to adapt and diversify his work, his goal remains clear: to make a living from visual art. "I never thought about abandoning creativity. It's always been a motivator. It's my leverage."
Today, Alejandro combines graphic design and photography to offer complete visual solutions, from craft beer labels to portraits and branding for companies. "Design and photography complement each other. They tell stories in their language, and together, they are more powerful."
His aesthetic vision has evolved since living in the United States. "Getting out of your comfort zone changes your perspective. It affects how you act, thinks, and see the world. That inevitably affects your creativity."
Now based in Minnesota, Alejandro focuses on building his brand. He has a registered LLC and is creating an online store to sell photographic prints. He is also exploring new areas, such as sports photography, and hopes to work for a professional team one day. "I see myself making a living from photography. Maybe not with the best camera on the market yet, but with the certainty that opportunities come if you look for them."
When asked what word
defines him today, he hesitantly answers: resilience. "Like trees in
winter: they lose their leaves, but in spring they bloom again." His
essence is what he projects: a story of perseverance, reinvention, and migrant
creativity that, no matter the place, always finds a way to flourish.
Article available in MEDIUM: https://medium.com/@andypino.ve/from-medell%C3%ADn-to-minnesota-alejandro-rizo-the-designer-who-flourished-far-from-home-ad58c89f1dc8
