DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: Juan Carlos Obando

A native of Baranquilla, Colombia, Obando began his professional visual communications journey in Miami, Florida. Possessing a natural ability to translate the beauty that surrounds him into tangible creations, Obando quickly transformed himself from a design student at the University of Miami into one of the most highly sought-after art directors. Obando worked with advertising powerhouses such as Bates Worldwide, Young and Rubicam, and Saatchi & Saatchi, creating “modern eye candy” for global brands such as BMW, Perrier, Procter & Gamble, L’Oreal Paris and entertainment giant, Walt Disney Co. As part of his innate ability to sell the idea of beauty and make it desirable, Obando created the “Let imagination run your life,” ad campaign for Toyota, which aired to much acclaim during Super Bowl XXXVI. In 2002, Obando photographed and art directed a book based on the 10 th anniversary of Latin American fashion designer Silvia Tcherassi – an experience which, coupled with his involvement over many seasons at Milan Fashion Week, helped Obando realize his innate talent for forecasting trends and shaping them into a gorgeous reality.

In 2003, Obando created his own privately-held fashion company, Bureau Beauté, LLC which houses the Juan Carlos Obando label. Considering himself an Angeleno, having lived in the city since the early nineties, Obando will debut his collection during Los Angeles Fashion Week in October 2004.