unexpectED designs

      

  

UnexpectED designs founder  Edward Saunders has always been interested in all aspects of art, from the performing arts to the visual arts.  In high school, his focus was on Journalism, for which he was nominated for a Miami Herald Silver Knight Award, as well as being twice recognized in Who’s Who of American High School Students. 

In college he developed an interest in theatre, and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Directing from Florida International University, graduating with honors. He spent several years pursuing a career in theatre, finally deciding to start his own non-profit theatre company in South Beach, Horizons Repertory Theatre. During the two years in which he served as Producing Artistic Director of the theatre, Ed took part in numerous productions as an actor, director and production designer, receiving glowing notices from critics and audiences alike.  In an article about local theatre companies, The New Times went so far as to call him, “the future of South Florida theatre.”  Unfortunately, despite a growing audience base, the financial demands became too great, and Horizons Repertory Theatre shut down after only two seasons.

Deciding to take a break from the performing arts, but still needing a creative outlet, Ed turned his sights to Graphic Design, again starting his own company, Tempest Graphics. His work quickly caught the eyes of local promoters and club owners, and he spent several years designing flyers and print ads for many South Beach clubs, including Crobar, Maze, B.E.D. and Score.  Realizing how heavily his graphics work revolved around pictures, Ed decided to add photography to his growing list of art forms.  He quickly made a name for himself as a photographer, and soon thereafter was chosen by Emilio Estefan to be the official photographer for Estefan’s Nuevas Voces de America, a vocal talent search which aired on Telemundo.  Besides photographing the contestants and their performances, Ed’s work on the show afforded him the opportunity to photograph such luminaries in the Latin music industry as Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Ana Gabriel, Olga Tanon, Miguel Bose, Don Omar and Alejandra Guzman, as well as former Miss Universe Amelia Vega.

                 

Since then, Ed has worked as a Lifestyle Photographer, being equally at home photographing Model Portfolios, Performance Events, Portraits, Nature and Landscapes, Wildlife, Still Life and Architecture, while continuing his graphic design work on business cards, company logos, invitations and various forms of print work.

Always looking for new and exciting outlets for his creativity, Ed started making various forms of three dimensional media, such as one of a kind glass gem covered table tops, hand painted vases and bowls, and decorative glass flowers, called “Wallflowers,” many of which are available through Avant-Garde.

With the addition of this three dimensional media, Ed realized that Tempest Graphics was no longer an appropriate name for his company, as it only encompassed one aspect of his work.  His work has been described as bold, vibrant, original, striking, unique and definitely one of a kind.  Adding those qualities to never knowing in what direction Ed’s creativity will take him next, and no word seems to fit better than unexpected.  Thus was born unexpectED designs.

Ed is thrilled to be a part of a dynamic enterprise such as Avant-Garde.   From its modern flair to its unique approach to customer satisfaction, Avant-Garde and unexpectED designs are the perfect fit.  Ed is responsible for all of the site’s photography, and several of his original pieces are available in the marketplace, with new pieces being added all the time.