Skate Better is the personal branding and digital portfolio of designer and creative, me, Nate Wojtach. The name ‘Skate Better’ is derived from the beloved Disney movie from 1998 ‘Brink!’ Before the final competition between team Pup N’ Suds and rival X-Blades, our hero Brink heads to the stands to get some last second encouragement from his family. His little sister, unprovoked, has some straightforward advice: ‘Skate better.’
Watch the clip here.
This simple yet profound saying has become a major cornerstone of how I approach life. Sometimes the only answer is you have to do better. And that’s what I strive to do each day, constantly improve and push myself to ‘Skate Better.’
Growing up in San Diego, California, my days were filled with art, sports, outdoor activities, and the beach. Although I wasn’t much of a surfer, I was, and still am, obsessed with the action sports industry. The action sports world was, and still is, the biggest inspiration to not only my personal style, but my design.
I studied Graphic Design in college after my mother recommended I look into the subject because ‘you love to draw.’ After a brief stint at San Fransisco State University, I transferred to Oregon State University were I finished schooling and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design. While in college, I was an intern at the action sports company the La Jolla Group, was a student intern for the OSU athletics department, and participated in the student ‘agency’ Studio 208. Soon after graduation, I was lucky enough to secure an internship in Switzerland where I worked with other interns in the fully functioning Swiss design firm Icon Worldwide.
Once back state side, I made my way back up to Oregon and started working at a design studio and print shop in Roseburg called Anvil Northwest. A few years later, I received an opportunity to move north to Beaverton, just outside of Portland. I took the opportunity and began working for the event and experience agency ETZEL Agency. This position introduced me to a different aspect of design in having to work in 3D spaces and create full experiences for guests to engage with.
In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors, especially on the river, playing soccer, and hanging with my cat. Along with this, I am constantly working on my personal branding and design, and am slowly working towards the resurgence of my action sports brand, ANYMS. Having experience working in many different creative industries, I am always looking for the next adventure and opportunity.
If you’d like more information or would like to work together, please feel free to reach out. I am always looking to start new collaborations and work on creative projects with cool people. If you’d like to know more about my professional experience, you can find my resume below.