I’m Fabian Tejada: an Emmy-winning Animation Director, Art Director, and founder of De Los Angeles Studio in Tucson, Arizona.
With 25 years of experience in motion graphics, filmmaking, and interactive design, I help exhibition teams, architecture firms, and media outlets turn dense narratives into clear, engaging visual media.
Recent work includes six custom media installations and gallery films for the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music, as well as directing, designing, and editing the 5-part Methods 101 series for Pew Research Center. Over my career, I’ve led animation teams and collaborated with studios like Imaginary Forces (where I led animation on the iconic Mad Men opening sequence), Pentagram, 2x4, and Gretel, alongside editorial and institutional clients like PBS NewsHour, Vox, and the World Bank.
Originally from Queens, New York, I hold a BFA & MFA from the School of Visual Arts. After years working across New York & Washington, D.C., I established De Los Angeles Studio in the Southwest, where I direct projects across screens, physical environments, and emerging interactive formats.
Awards & Recognition
2025 Rocky Mountain Emmy - PHXDW 2024: OASIS - Nomination
2024 AAF Phoenix - PHXDW 2023: Unite - Gold
2024 AIGA Best of AZ - PHXDW 2023: Unite - First Place
2022 AIGA Best of AZ - Motive Journey - Official Selection
2022 AIGA Best of AZ - TikTok: Business Case Study - Official Selection
2022 AIGA Best of AZ - TikTok: Care Products - Official Selection
2021 AIGA Best of AZ - Ken Burns American Heritage Prize - Official Selection
2021 AIGA Best of AZ - Grammy Museum Map - Official Selection
2021 W3 Awards - SCL: The Word - Silver
2020 W3 Awards - Generalist vs. Specialist: Which is Better? - Silver
2020 W3 Awards - IWF The Weekly Rundown - Silver
2020 AIGA 50 - WWAV #VotingSquad - Winner
2019 Capital Emmy - Generalist vs. Specialist - Nomination
2020 Telly Awards - WWAV #VotingSquad - Bronze
2018 Capital Emmy - Did Rats Start the Drug War? - Winner 📹
2018 AIGA 50 - Can an Algorithm Catch a Serial Killer? - Winner
2018 TIVA Awards - Music of The Spheres - Bronze
2018 TIVA Awards - Can an Algorithm Catch a Serial Killer? - Bronze
2018 TIVA Awards - Preventing Cognitive Decline & Dementia - Silver
2018 TIVA Awards - The High Cost of Free Parking - Silver
2018 Telly Awards - Music of the Spheres - Silver
2018 Telly Awards - Can an Algorithm Catch a Serial Killer? - Silver
2018 Telly Awards - Music of the Spheres - Bronze
2018 Telly Awards - The High Cost of Free Parking - Bronze
2017 Capital Emmy - The High Cost of Free Parking - Nomination
2017 Capital Emmy - #MyDCcool - Nomination
2017 Capital Emmy - Can an Algorithm Catch a Serial Killer? - Nomination
2014 Red Dot Awards - Pepsi Spire - Interactive Installation - Winner
2011 Cannes Gold Cyber Lion - Toyota Prius "Goes Plural - Winner
2009 PromaxBDA Awards - Fuel TV "First Hand" - 2x Bronze
2008 ADC - Distinctive Merit for Excellence: "Mad Men" Titles
2008 PromaxBDA BDA Design - "Mad Men" Title Sequence - Gold
2008 Primetime Emmy Award - Main Title Design: "Mad Men" - Winner
2007 Telly Awards - BET Notarized - Bronze
2007 One Show - Nike One Time Only - Gold
2006 One Show - Nike Considered - Gold
2003 American Graphic Design Awards - CC "Comic Remix" - Winner
2002 AIGA Medal - 745 7TH AVENUE SIGNAGE - Gold
2002 ADC Medal - 745 7TH Avenue Signage - Gold
1999 ADC Award - Equis - Merit
1998 Dusties Film & Video Awards - Equis - Winner
2024 AIGA Best of AZ - PHXDW 2023: Unite - First Place
2022 AIGA Best of AZ - Motive Journey - Official Selection
2022 AIGA Best of AZ - TikTok: Business Case Study - Official Selection
2022 AIGA Best of AZ - TikTok: Care Products - Official Selection
2021 AIGA Best of AZ - Ken Burns American Heritage Prize - Official Selection
2021 AIGA Best of AZ - Grammy Museum Map - Official Selection
2021 W3 Awards - SCL: The Word - Silver
2020 W3 Awards - Generalist vs. Specialist: Which is Better? - Silver
2020 W3 Awards - IWF The Weekly Rundown - Silver
2020 AIGA 50 - WWAV #VotingSquad - Winner
2019 Capital Emmy - Generalist vs. Specialist - Nomination
2020 Telly Awards - WWAV #VotingSquad - Bronze
2018 Capital Emmy - Did Rats Start the Drug War? - Winner 📹
2018 AIGA 50 - Can an Algorithm Catch a Serial Killer? - Winner
2018 TIVA Awards - Music of The Spheres - Bronze
2018 TIVA Awards - Can an Algorithm Catch a Serial Killer? - Bronze
2018 TIVA Awards - Preventing Cognitive Decline & Dementia - Silver
2018 TIVA Awards - The High Cost of Free Parking - Silver
2018 Telly Awards - Music of the Spheres - Silver
2018 Telly Awards - Can an Algorithm Catch a Serial Killer? - Silver
2018 Telly Awards - Music of the Spheres - Bronze
2018 Telly Awards - The High Cost of Free Parking - Bronze
2017 Capital Emmy - The High Cost of Free Parking - Nomination
2017 Capital Emmy - #MyDCcool - Nomination
2017 Capital Emmy - Can an Algorithm Catch a Serial Killer? - Nomination
2014 Red Dot Awards - Pepsi Spire - Interactive Installation - Winner
2011 Cannes Gold Cyber Lion - Toyota Prius "Goes Plural - Winner
2009 PromaxBDA Awards - Fuel TV "First Hand" - 2x Bronze
2008 ADC - Distinctive Merit for Excellence: "Mad Men" Titles
2008 PromaxBDA BDA Design - "Mad Men" Title Sequence - Gold
2008 Primetime Emmy Award - Main Title Design: "Mad Men" - Winner
2007 Telly Awards - BET Notarized - Bronze
2007 One Show - Nike One Time Only - Gold
2006 One Show - Nike Considered - Gold
2003 American Graphic Design Awards - CC "Comic Remix" - Winner
2002 AIGA Medal - 745 7TH AVENUE SIGNAGE - Gold
2002 ADC Medal - 745 7TH Avenue Signage - Gold
1999 ADC Award - Equis - Merit
1998 Dusties Film & Video Awards - Equis - Winner
Talks & Events
2025 ASU GIT 537 Current Issues in Cross Media Production, Visiting Lecturer
2024 PCC DAR250 Computer 2D Animation, Visiting Lecturer
2024 The Society of Publication Designers (SPD) 59, Digital Juror
2023 Creative Mornings Tucson: Movement in Visual Storytelling, Speaker
2023 Bard Tales Article; Is AI Replacing Human Creativity? Contributor
2023 AIGA AZ Portfolio Review, Guest Critic
2022 Texas State University Comdes Exit Review, Motion Judge
2022 AIGA AZ Portfolio Review, Guest Critic
2021 AIGA AZ Portfolio Review, Guest Critic
2020 Lehman College LEH 353 Aesthetics and Techniques of Visual Storytelling, Guest Critic
2020 AIGA 50 Design Competition, Judge
2020 Sixty Second Capital Emmy Awards, Super Judge
2020 Freecano — A Philosophy & Art Virtual Exhibition, Group show
2020 Freecano Reunion Virtual Conversation, Group show
2020 DC in Motion #MotionFlashback2019, Co-organizer, co-host
2019 DC in Motion #NextStop at Dupont Underground, Group show
2019 AIGA DC Creative Review at Optoro, Guest critic
2019 WIFV Animators Roundtable: Top 5 List Challenge Game, Contestant
2018 DC Summer Loops at Dupont Underground, Group show
2017 WaitWhatPro Podcast, Artist with Agency # 45, Speaker
2016 AIGA DC Salon, Nonprofits in Motion: Creating Motion Graphics with a Purpose, Speaker