Roman Jaster is a graphic designer, web developer, and educator. He is the co-founder of Yay Brigade, a Los Angeles-based design studio.

Roman’s work is focused on web design and development, as well as print and book design. From his shared studio space in Downtown Los Angeles, he works on commissioned projects, often for cultural organizations and artists. He co-founded the design studio Yay Brigade in 2014. Roman graduated from the California Institute of the Arts in 2007 where he now teaches web design courses. Roman finds delight in baking hearty loaves of bread, contemplating the etymology of English and German words, playing with his two small pets of the order rodentia, and finding a copy of the Los Angeles Times in front of his dwelling every morning.

Timeline

  • Currently

    Co-founder of design studio Yay Brigade (since 2014) Teaching web design classes at California Institute of the Arts (since 2008)

  • 2007–2014

    Graphic design practice in Los Angeles

  • 2007–2013

    Teaching graphic design classes at Chaffey College (2007–10), USC Roski School of Art (2008–13), Otis College of Art and Design (2009–11)

  • 2008–2012

    Co-editor of Mammut Magazine

  • 2006

    Winner of the 2006 Art Directors Club Scholarship (Adobe Scholarship in Design)

  • 2003–2007

    California Institute of the Arts (Valencia, California) BFA in Graphic Design

  • 2001

    Married my high school sweet heart

  • 2001–2003

    Rhythm Interactive (Tustin, California) Designer and web developer

  • 1999–2000

    Chaffey College (Rancho Cucamonga, California) Associates Degree in Graphic Design Graduated as Valedictorian

  • 1998

    Move to the United States for two years of college, but it turned out more permanently

  • 1997

    Graduated from “Gymnasium Grosse Stadtschule” in Rostock (Germany)

  • 1994 – 1995

    Exchange student at Rancho Cucamonga High School (Rancho Cucamonga, California) Oh, and I met a girl in English class

  • 1990

    Admittance to the colorful world of capitalism (aka German Reunification)

  • 1978 – 1989

    Born and raised in the German Democratic Republic in the city of Rostock

Selected Clients

  • MAK Center for Art and Architecture
  • Pasadena Conservatory of Music
  • California Institute of the Arts
  • Moule & Polyzoides Architects
  • Green Dragon Office
  • USC Roski School of Fine Arts
  • Art Center College of Design
  • Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
  • dosa
  • California Community Foundation
  • Redcat Gallery
  • Beall Center for Art and Technology
  • CAP (CalArts Community Arts Partnership)
  • Los Angeles Urban Rangers
  • The Institute For Figuring
  • artists Suzanne Lacy, Lisa Anne Auerbach, Quintan Wikswo, Natalie Bookchin, Fritz Haeg, and Elana Mann
  • writers Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen

Teaching

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)

  • Advanced Web Design: WordPress
    • Fall 2012–2015
  • Advanced Web Design: UX Design
    • Spring 2012–2016
  • Advanced Web Design
    • Spring 2011, Fall 2011
  • Beginning Web Design
    • Spring 2010
  • Portfolio Website Design for Photographers
    • Spring 2008, Spring 2009

USC Roski School of Fine Arts

  • Beginning Web Design
    • Fall 2011, Spring 2013
  • Beginning Typography
    • Spring 2011
  • Advanced Typography
    • Spring 2010, Fall 2010
  • Design Fundamentals
    • Spring 2009
  • Digital Tools
    • Fall 2008, Fall 2009

Otis College of Art and Design

  • Beginning Web Design
    • Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011
  • Web Presentation (Portfolio Website Design)
    • Spring 2010, Spring 2011
  • Advanced Web Design
    • Fall 2011

CHAFFEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

  • Introduction to Graphic Design
    • Fall 2007, Spring 2008, Fall 2008, Spring 2010
  • Typography
    • Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Fall 2010

I Really Like...

Playing Guitar

Baking Hearty Loaves

...and making jam, yoghurt, pickles, and Sauerkraut.

The Color Orange

Skinnydipping

Yay, Baltic Sea.

Foxes

...and badgers and hedgehogs and moles.

R.E.M.

Out of Time is still one of my all-time favorite records.

Das Reinheitsgebot

Beer brewing purity law anno domini 1516.

Michael Pollan

His books Second Nature, The Omnivore's Dilemma, and Cooked have been greatly influential and inspiring.

Julian, CA

A great place to spent the first week of each year to relax, reflect and make plans.

Previous Collaborators

Friends