aWANTEDmag.com, Inc

Whether as a child or during the first part of your career, who or what were your earliest artistic influences?

My first name, Andrio, has some coincidental artistic significance. I was born in 1980, and my parents weren't sure

what to call me then. Andy Warhol was very popular at the time, but they didn't want call me Andy or Andrew. My grandfather's name was

Alejandro so my father decided combine the two put a slight spin on them, henceforth Andrio. I grew to appreciate the artist that gave inspiration to my name.

How have those influences carried through to your work today?

It's interesting because I never imagined my work would be so directly related to Andy Warhol's in terms of technique. My design process is derived from the screen printing process as well as it's limitations, granted most of the pre-production work is done in the computer, but with the idea of working with less and more simply. The fundamentals of reproduction still remain today for the most part.

Would you say your work is driven by form or content? As in, does it develop from an idea/seek to express an idea, or is it more about formal aspects, like shape/color etc.

I think my work in essence is finding that perfect balance of form and content. They inform one another.

While you are known for your former studio’s (33RPM) recognizable work that fuses design and music, within the past year you’ve chosen to reestablish your work under your own name and move in a different direction. What prompted the change in subject matter?

There's always a need to keep things fresh and alive. While it's easier to continue working under a specific style, I feel like you don't grow as much. It's always fun to reinvent yourself, too. I compare this to my music listening habits. The more open and willing I am to try something new the more likely I am to have a different perspective. You and subsequently your work changes, and change is good.

How does your environment (i.e. hometown, cityscapes, rural landscapes, etc.) affect the work you create?

Ever since moving to New York from Seattle I noticed a significant change in my personality and my design process. New York is always this clichéd place of "make it or break it", but it carries a lot of truth to that sentiment. The pace here is so much more accelerated and inspiring than anywhere else I've lived or visited.

How is American culture conveyed through your work?

A lot of my early work was inspired by 90's indie rock, which was more local and regional then. The Northwest poster design scene of the 90's mirrored that ethos. The style was very recognizable, very American. The culture is different now. What was once regional is now ubiquitous because of the internet, more specifically styles and influences. It's interesting to me because I want to retain a sense of personality and uniqueness in my work, but it's hard to maintain that when we're all so hyper-aware of what everyone else is doing.