Portrait (taken by Hai Nguyen) and Self-Portrait (Charcoal on Ingres Paper. 2020. 18"x24").
"My name is Andrew Jay Kwong. I am a graphic designer and illustrator. My dream is to design and create an identity for many restaurants in Sacramento. The end goal is to leave a lasting legacy in Sacramento's restaurant scene through my work."
Andrew Jay Kwong's Story
Andrew Jay Kwong is a graphic designer and illustrator from Sacramento, California. He had started off as a traditional artist in junior high school with colored pencils on paper as his primary medium. By the end of senior high school, his interest in graphic design had grown and began studying graphic design at Sacramento State in Fall 2015.
During his first semester at Sacramento State, Andrew was working as a food server for Chef Taka Watanabe at Ju Hachi by Taka's which is where his love for the restaurant industry started to grow. After his acceptance into Sacramento State's graphic design program in Spring 2017, Andrew decided that he not only wanted to improve his graphic design skills, but also his knowledge on food and beverage; leading to his departure from Ju Hachi by Taka's in Spring 2018.
Shortly after, Andrew started his employment at Hook & Ladder Manufacturing Co., where he would help Executive Chef Anthony Scuderi and GM Rafael Jimenez-Rivera with the menu layout before a seasonal menu change. This has lead to future projects with not only this restaurant, but other restaurants in Sacramento during his employment such as designing the brand for Hao Bao Dumplings and the rebrand of Otoro.
In Spring 2019, Andrew participated in the Department of Design's Spring Showcase; marking his completion of the design program. While taking on graphic design work and completing the rest of his general education, Andrew worked on a few traditional art projects to experiment with different drawing mediums such as charcoal and chalk pastels.
Andrew has completed his study at Sacramento State in Summer 2020 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design. Since his completion of coursework, he has helped restaurants in the Sacramento area with design work such as Kodaiko Ramen & Bar,
Fishface Poke Bar, Sushi Q, and Tanuki Izakaya & Ramen.
Fishface Poke Bar, Sushi Q, and Tanuki Izakaya & Ramen.
At the beginning of 2022, Andrew has dedicated some time to a personal project called PROJECT R.I.S.E., a very personal album where he took song lyrics that he has written and produced them into an actual song. He has also illustrated all of the images used in the artwork for the album and singles. He has released these songs under the alias Tsutomu AJK.
Password for The Moment to Remember: sacramentostate
Password for My First Design Project: renatowatanabe
Password for My First Design Project: renatowatanabe