"Before you buy something, try making it yourself" is a motto that Casey lives by. He turns his watercolor paintings into stickers by first importing his paintings into Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator and transforms them into digital designs that he prints as custom, unique stickers

Tell me a little bit about your journey to the Academy?  

 First of all, design is my passion, and when I was looking to applying to colleges I wanted to focus my studies where design intersects with business, technology, and leadership. I found what I was looking for in the Academy. In addition, the Academy provides a network of dedicated, creative, and innovative students and professors that can’t be beat. The academy pushes me to be my best just to keep up with everyone else, and I love it. 

 Describe a passion project you’re currently working?  

 I am currently turning my watercolor paintings into stickers. I am importing my paintings into Photoshop and/or Illustrator where I turn them into digital designs that can be printed as stickers. Soon, I plan to cover the entire surface of my Macbook with my own stickers! 

What inspired the project? 
I love drawing and watercoloring and I also love customizing everything I own using stickers.  

Watercolor + love for stickers = watercolor stickers! 

Is there a leader or mentor who inspires you?  
Steve Barth 

Is there an inspirational quote you live by? 
"If the only tool you have is a hammer, it's hard to eat spaghetti."  -David Allen

What are three goals you have this year? 

Create a website and a marketing campaign to sell my artwork

Describe one thing most people don’t know about you?  
I can make my voice sound exactly like Obama. No really, it’s uncanny. 

What is one thing your parents taught you that you’d like to share?  
Before you buy something, try making it yourself. 

What are the essential things you always keep in your backpack? 
Macbook, headphones, mouse, and lots of sketchbooks + pencils 

Favorite class at USC and why?  
Disruptive Innovation because learning how to design for consumers is the key to getting any startup off the ground. Also, now I actually know what “disruptive innovation” means. 

Favorite way to de-stress:  
Listening to music and meditating or playing guitar.  

Guilty Pleasure? 
Eating four packs of Poptarts at three in the morning.  

FRESH Encounters: Casey Reich