Hokie Feature: Ethan Candelario
Ethan Candelario
Graphic Designer | Motion Graphic Specialist | Class of 2021
As Rec Sports’ most seasoned marketing employee, senior Ethan Candelario’s time with the team has come to an end. As a graphic designer who’s impacted the revolution of our brand, it was only fitting to honor him with a #HokieFeature to send him off in style.
Surprisingly enough, he actually applied for the graphic design position on a whim. From the start, he was tasked with designing a new “I am the Hokie Movement” t-shirt, a shirt that he helped evolve from a campaign into a brand.
“I wanted to make something that people would wear; a part of that was having a good design. With good design comes the opportunity to expand it into other forms. The rest kind of just happened. Will and Ronnie [Rec Sports Marketing Managers] saw the opportunities to expand it and we did.”
As a man of many talents, Candelario assisted with photography and videography duties in addition to his graphic design position with Rec Sports.
“Ethan’s neither a generalist or specialist: he’s great at it all,” said Will Trent, Rec Sports’ Assistant Director for Marketing. “His creative skillset allows him to dream up just about anything and bring it to life. His passion for his work makes it so fun to watch, too.”
Speaking on his accomplishments since working here, Candelario “wouldn’t say that any one thing was more important than the other,” but a few projects definitely do stand out.
“Venture Out was really cool; I feel like I made the amount of different offerings easily digestible. I feel like I made them really look like how Venture Out is. The photo shoots were [also] really successful for all of the shirts we have done. And of course the wall wraps.”
The magnitude of his talent is shown as his work on the Venture Out brand design won the “NIRSA Creative Excellence Award” - an international award in the field of collegiate recreation in 2021 for Most Outstanding Student Publication.
Candelario also finds value in seeing his work outside the walls of Rec Sports. He also enjoys seeing his own personal growth through his time here.
“Seeing the stuff you make out in the world and out in the community. People wearing the shirts and having fun in them, getting to take pictures at the events, and also seeing the stuff up and around the facilities. It’s a nice feeling.”
“I’m not sure there was any one [takeaway], but definitely going back and looking at the stuff I made when I first started here compared to the stuff now. It almost looks like it was made from a different person. Seeing the growth in both graphic design and photography [has been great].”
Ethan has accepted a job with Virginia Tech and will be serving as their motion graphic specialist. His dedication to the marketing department of Rec Sports will have a lasting impact. Ethan, we thank you for all your hard work. You have inspired many, created outstanding work, and launched this department into the next chapter.
A few of Ethan's favorite Rec Sports design and photography projects
