Meet Francisco Abundiz | Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Francisco Abundiz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Francisco, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have always been creative since I was young and loved to express myself through art, design, and everything in between. As I came into adulthood, I realized that I had let my creative side take a backseat so I could focus on ways to grow professionally and be able to pay the bills. Working in retail, banking, and the tech industry was fun, but there was always something missing. When I realized I wanted to truly represent who I am as a person and as a creative I decided to start a “side-hustle” for the creative outlet. I was able to still work the 9-5, but then enjoy building a brand that truly represented me. ABNDZ was born out of my passion for all things design. I studied graphic arts in school and always loved the way great design influenced how we saw the world, and what we chose to represent us. Things such as packaging design, furniture design, and branding have such an important role in our world and shape how we define or brand ourselves. Creating ABNDZ allowed me to encompass all of these things under one roof. Offering logo design, branding collateral, and interior design allowed me to show my talents which would otherwise be unseen in my normal day-to-day jobs. ABNDZ is the letters from my last name, but missing U & I. The most important piece of the puzzle, the people. Connecting with the clients, building that relationship, and understanding their needs to create the best version of their vision. ABNDZ has grown to now also include fragrance, which is another passion of mine. The emotional reaction to scent is deeply connected to the part of our minds where memory is stored. The power of scent cannot be understated. Its ability to transform a mood, recall a memory, and inspire a feeling is unmatched. This new part of my brand allows me to create branding, packaging design, and fragrance. Everything simply representing “me”.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
ABNDZ sets itself apart by being a brand that appreciates all areas of design. I see things in the big picture and know that creating a brand is not as easy as it seems. Anyone can create a visual image to represent themselves or decorate an interior to look like the magazine photo they saw. ABNDZ takes it to a new level by always keeping in mind the “experience”. Whether it is branding to represent your new company, the interior design of a new space, or a fragrance, ABNDZ strives to represent who you are. People should be able to see that logo, walk into that home or smell that fragrance and automatically know WHO it represents.

Before starting ABNDZ, I had a few jobs in retail, banking, and the tech industry. Although these jobs were fun and helped shape who I am, they did not offer me the opportunity to fully showcase who I am as a creative and as a designer. In 2017 I started a job with a small interior design firm and that completely changed my mindset and fulfilled what I had been missing. My holistic design experience draws from interiors, graphic arts, fashion, and even technology. Starting work with Y Interiors from the inception, I held a multifaceted role tackling client design plans, brand management, and daily operations. I am a detailed perfectionist, taking note of how the smallest variants can affect the experience of a client’s space. With my background in branding, logistics, and tech, I became an asset on large-scale commercial projects where consistent aesthetics are key. Plus, my unique ability to combine styles, listen for underlying needs, and balance new trends with enduring design makes for an ideal workflow in residential interior planning.

Along the way, I have learned that you just need to “go for it”. It is easy to dream about what you want to do in life and envision what you wish you could do. But actually making it a reality is the hardest yet most rewarding part of the overall experience.

I am a creative with a natural eye for design. I am truly passionate about what I do and can offer to clients. My natural eye for design and forward-thinking view on trends rivals the experience of even the highest trained experts in the field. I LOVE what I do and love to share that with those I have the honor of working with.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In Houston I love to go to Ruggles Black, because of the Keto menu items! You can enjoy food thats good, and good for you. I highly recommend the lavender lemonade! I also love getting inspired by all forms of art and would recommend visiting the James Turrell installation at the Museum of Fine Arts, visiting the museum district, staying or atleast admiring the Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston. I also love the Hotel Alessandra for all it’s beautifully designed interiors with brass, marble and velvet! Our day would finish with shopping at Highland Village at places such as Design Within reach, Restoration Hardware, and High Fashion Home in Midtown.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother definitely deserves recognition in my story. She has always supported me and pushed me to truly represent who I am even when I doubted myself. My sister has also been a huge part of encouraging me to just “go for it”. My close friends have always seen the talents I have and assured me that taking the risk is worth it!

Website: www.abndz.com

Instagram: abndz_studio, abndz_alchemy

Image Credits
Dan Miller