Meet Ian Anderson | Creative Director & CEO of SOL Studios

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

Hi Ian, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Since launching my business, my sense of balance has significantly shifted. When establishing a venture from the ground up, especially a business, achieving a work-life balance can be incredibly challenging. The initial phase demands complete dedication and commitment. However, as the business expands and additional personnel are hired to assume roles and responsibilities I initially managed myself, it becomes possible to step back and regain a more balanced lifestyle.

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.
What distinguishes my work is that I create clothing that I genuinely want to wear. My ultimate dream is to have my closet filled exclusively with my brand, Sol. Another aspect that sets my art apart is my diverse influences, drawing from various forms of art such as movies, graphics, clothing, and photography. I believe there is something valuable to learn from every style, and I enjoy integrating these different elements into a single project.

My journey began with a specific YouTube video I watched about eight years ago, which sparked my interest in cameras and videography. This interest evolved into a passion for photography, then graphic design, and eventually led me to establish my own brand, Sol Studios, where I could merge all these creative disciplines.

One important lesson I’ve learned is the necessity of occasionally stepping away from a project. I can become so engrossed in my work that I lose sight of the overall vision. Taking a break allows me to reassess and realign with the project’s original story. As a quote I once heard aptly puts it, “Creative people need time to do nothing.” This resonates deeply with me, as I have often found that taking a few hours away from my work is crucial for reigniting my creativity

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?
Living in San Diego offers an endless array of activities. To start, attending a Padres game is a must; the energy of the stadium is unparalleled. Next, a visit to Mission Beach is essential, whether we’re playing volleyball, tossing a football, or simply relaxing—it’s always an excellent choice.

For dining, Javier’s is a personal favorite. As a lover of Mexican cuisine, I appreciate the excellent food and the dark, classy atmosphere, making it a complete experience. Another fantastic spot for Mexican food is The Taco Stand downtown.

As someone who enjoys staying active, I would take my friend to the UCSD track for a run. It’s nestled in a small grove of trees, providing a great environment for a workout. Saturday mornings are reserved exclusively for the Little Italy Farmers Market, which is the best farmers market I’ve ever visited. To round things off, we would visit North Park, stroll around, and enjoy a coffee.

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?
There are so many people in ,my life who deserve a shoutout, big or small. Firstly I will shoutout my dad. He started his own business from nothing in 2001 and grew it bigger than he probably thought he could. He’s always instilled a hard work ethic in me.

Growing up I always saw him working and he always told me, “You have to work your butt off if you want anything.” Him being a business owner seemed so normal yet so farfetch’d, I always put CEO’s and business owners into a separate category than everyone else with a “normal” job. Him owning his own business made me inspired to live up to his accomplishments and make him proud. That thought will continue to motivate me for years to come.

Secondly I have to shout out my mom. She’s was always my rock and the person I could go to for whatever I needed and would always, 100% of the time be on my side.

I also have to shoutout my friends, they were my first customers and continue to give me feedback on clothing designs, graphics and more.

Lastly, my girlfriend, she’s the one who really sees the trials and tribulations of daily work on sol. She sometimes dreams even bigger than I do of what my business could be and what I could do with it. She’s also a great person to bounce ideas off of, she has great style and has a nose for picking out an outfit that works.

Website: https://solstudios.net

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-anderson-328370202/

Other: https://www.instagram.com/sol_studios._/