We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael (jordan) Lindsey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael (Jordan), can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was residing in Indianapolis Indiana in one of the most popular areas at the time, Broad Ripple. This is important because that was the main way I was able to network so well. I noticed a need for artistry in the Indianapolis area and decided to start my own brand which would cater to the automotive market. At the time automotive photographers weren’t really a thing unless you worked specifically for a brand, a motorsports company, or a dealership. I set out to change that and went to local car shows/meets and Cars & Coffees to network and hone my skills. At this same time I was finishing up my bachelors of computer science program at The Art Institute of Indianapolis. Throughout my time in Indianapolis I had various projects on the side such as large scale wall murals, logo designs, signage designs, and various photoshoots.

Seeing how many of the digital art forms typically need each other to complete a project I decided to take on all aspects of what my clients would need from web-design to marketing. I took coding classes, photography, darkroom and lighting classes, marketing and even business classes just so I could start my own freelance business utilizing all of these skills together in harmony. This way my clients didn’t need waste much needed time searching for a bunch of different businesses to fulfill their goals. I am a one stop shop that can do it all so all you have to do is integrate the designs/photos/marketing material into your business structure. It’s as simple as contacting me and having a quick discussion or email about the scope of your project. Whether it be a photoshoot, event coverage, full branding or just a quick simple logo, to landing pages and full web-design ArtDesignDrive was going to spearhead it all.

I wanted to make sure I was affordable so that I could work with anyone which ended up being a little more than I could manage. So I made things a little more inclusive and started mostly working with startups that understood the importance of good quality design and marketing material. Some people are the right fit and some aren’t which is okay as not everyone has the same idea about artists and their abilities. When I started ArtDesignDrive in 2011 I mainly did it because I wanted to share my passion and give automotive enthusiasts access to high quality photos at an affordable price. Then it snowballed into a lot more.

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.
My art has a bunch of different outlets ranging from photography to fine art. What sets me apart I would say is my speed and how quickly not only can I finish a piece, but the amount of quality I can achieve in a small amount of time is hard to find anywhere else. I started free-handing portrait drawings in high-school for close friends and family. From there I started creating large scale murals for businesses plus creating branding and identity. I was also just getting my feet wet in photography. Starting out with portraits and a few weddings I decided I wanted to turn to automotive photography since that was where my true passion led. Now I’m doing full scale branding, logo design, web design, automotive and portrait shoots, videography and merchandise design.

Flash forward to now and I’ve helped launch a few brands by creating their identity and marketing materials. I’ve started creating more wearable art in the form of apparel showcasing my designs and photos. I’ve been published in several magazines and was even featured on a few covers. I’ve created everything from the ground up with no help from ai so every piece of material I have ever produced has been all original. I put my heart into each photoshoot and branding project I do because I know how important those services are to businesses. Your brand is something everyone will see so you need it to stand out and be memorable. Consequently so are your photos and you need to make sure they are received in a positive light. That’s where I come in.

There were and still are a lot of challenges that I face such as acquiring new clients, networking with other businesses, acquiring sponsorships, all while trying to stay relevant in such a saturated market. The fact that nearly everyone with a cellphone could be a photographer nowadays and with many of them charging next to nothing it can be difficult for someone starting out to show why someone would want to pay for their services. The best advice I can give here is play the law of averages. My wife always tells me this because even if you get 10 no’s and 1 yes that’s still a paycheck. Sometimes it may take days or weeks to get that yes, but the most important thing is that you keep pushing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Personally, I would take them on a tour of the automotive lifestyle because most likely they would be a car enthusiast like me.

Assuming they would be visiting in the cooler months starting out on a Saturday morning we would hit up a Cars & Coffee meet such as Highline Autos on High Street in Desert Ridge, 4Till4 Coffee in Old Town Scottsdale, or Anthem Cars & Coffee. Then later in the even cruise over to Mixteca at 67th & Bell Rd. or the Rock & Roll Car Show at the Scottsdale Pavillions.

Sunday would be best spent driving around the amazing roads we have out here hitting places like Bartlett Lake, Lake Pleasant, and Tortilla Flats for example.

Monday we would tour some performance shops like Cordes Performance, Hyer Quality Detail, and Black Market Racing.

Tuesday would be a good day to switch it up and go to the Desert Botanical Garden because they have free admission days.

Wednesday we would go to Westgate to Hot Rod Night which features vintage cars and modern custom hot rods.

Thursday could be another day to break up the car stuff and hit up a local venue for some live music or a comedy club. Since I’m up in the north valley I suggest Desert Ridge as there is so much to do in such a small area.

Friday’s are best spent causing a ruckus with friends cruising the streets looking for other car enthusiasts. This is how many of my connections, friendships and clients that I still have today were made.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
To be totally honest each and everyone I have worked with throughout the years are the real MVP’s. I wouldn’t have been able to continue to do what I love to do if it weren’t for amazing clients like mine that keep pushing me and giving me work.

Continuous growth is what business is all about and I absolutely appreciate my clients trusting me with their visions. I know it’s not easy to find someone who truly gets what you are trying to show the world, but when an artist like me shows up it’s all about creative passion and giving what I can do to fulfill someone’s idea.

I would also like to give a shout to the car community in general because even though there are some people that give it a bad name **street takeovers cough cough** most of the automotive fan base are good people and would help you out in a pinch. Also to a countless number of companies I’ve worked with that have helped me get my vehicles to where they are today and in the future by offering parts, discounts, services, or free work just on an exchange for my skills.

Most importantly I want to shout out my wife because she constantly pushes me to do better and be better not only in my daily life but in my business. She has helped me through a lot of mental challenges that I would have had a hard time with had it not been for her.

Website: https://www.art-design-drive.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artdesigndrive

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lindsey-artdesigndrive

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtDesignDrive

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtDesignDrive

Other: Image Portfolio Site – https://artdesigndrive.smugmug.com

Image Credits
Myself – ArtDesignDrive

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