Artist Spotlight: Fisher Giannotti

Meet the mind behind FRG Designs, who went from making graphics just for fun to delivering new, disruptive graphics for a staple NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team.

1️⃣ How did you get your start designing?

I started designing paint scheme concepts just for fun back in 2020 on my phone. I was always someone who loved art, and my mom was a musician so she always encouraged me to do something that was expressive and could showcase my creativity, but I never really saw a way to incorporate motorsports into it — until I learned that I could actually design the cars I would watch on TV.

Joining the NASCAR Designing servers on Discord helped a lot too, though, as I was able to meet a ton of other young designers looking to create and share their ideas and concepts, but also designers I looked up to would be there and would be really helpful with feedback and critiques.

However, it really wasn’t until around 2022 and I had a couple of designs on-track that I felt like it would become a career. I was lucky enough to move to Charlotte for college, and I’ve been able to make connections in motorsports while also learning a lot through my classes and growing as a designer.

2️⃣ Where do you turn for inspiration?

It varies depending on what I am designing, as each element needs a different style. I really do lean on other creatives a lot, so just trying to find designers who have been in the industry longer than I have, and just see what they do, and see what works on their designs. Also, just reaching out and seeing if they have any ideas or input as well. I was scared to reach out as a kid to those I look up to, but almost every designer I know would be more than happy to give feedback.

3️⃣ What project of yours personally are you most proud of and why?

The Kyle Busch 2007 Delphi Throwback that Daniel Hemric is driving at Charlotte later this year. I really do love every project I get to work on, but the meaning behind this one is so special, even though the truck hasn’t even hit the track as I’m writing this. Everyone in our community was heartbroken to learn about Kyle’s passing, and I’m just grateful we get to honor him in this way, especially considering how Daniel knew Kyle well and also how we have Delphi back in the sport, and that there was a race-winning relationship between the two sides. 

It just really started out as a concept, and I wasn’t even sure it would happen, but seeing the positive reaction on social media, and multiple colleagues reaching out, a lot of which being fans of Kyle’s, really made me feel proud of what we were able to do. 

4️⃣ What’s your ‘trademark’ style that helps you stand out from other designers?

My trademark style, in my opinion, is creating designs that are bold and eye-catching. When looking at the graphics I’ve made, I try to make sure the compositions are dynamic and can really draw a viewer in, especially since the work is for a team, and gaining new fans is a huge goal, and making unique graphics can do just that. It really is hard to stand out in the motorsports space, as there’s a ton of teams and drivers, but having a set idea in mind on what the aesthetic and vibe needs to be really helps. 

With paint scheme designing, it’s a lot harder in my eyes to stand out. There’s 35-40 cars on track depending on the series, but I still have the same goals in mind: I want the car or truck to look eye-catching, as I remember being a kid in the stands and choosing a favorite driver because I liked the paint scheme. I want people to feel that way when they look at the paint schemes I create.

5️⃣ You’ve spent the last three seasons of NASCAR at Bill McAnally Racing as a graphic designer. How did you end up getting connected with the team and landing the role? 

I created a social graphic just for fun in 2024 that caught the social media admin’s attention, then reached out and offered to come up with race day graphics for the rest of the season, and have continued to do so since then. It really showed me that if a team or driver notices your work, reaching out and putting your name out there is key, because you never know what connection can come from it. 

6️⃣ You achieved a goal of many designers in the sport to have one of your own designs win a race. What was the feeling of seeing your art in Victory Lane, and did you ever think it was a possibility? 

It was truly an amazing feeling, and something I will remember for the rest of my life, as it’s just something every creative in NASCAR wants to experience. When I first started out designing, I would see other colleagues post about getting a “Designer Dub,” and I wasn’t sure if I ever would get one, but having a couple of schemes win races this year has been amazing. Just grateful that everyone involved trusted the vision with the designs. 

7️⃣ BMR’s social graphic language, specifically their race day graphics, are among some of the most detailed and are truly impressive. What is your design process when it comes to choosing the theme and layout? 

A big goal each year is to make a brand that is recognizable, and I feel like we did just that, and have built a stronger, more cohesive style each year. Making sure the color palette, textures, fonts, and every creative element would stand out is so crucial. All of those elements are then translated into any type of graphic we need, whether that be winner graphics, result graphics, stat graphics, just every graphic that will go on social media, has to be something that the viewer sees, and knows it BMR’s.

It’s also a much easier design process when I’m encouraged to be creative and reference stuff in the race day graphics, like NASCAR Racing 2003, or media from my childhood like SpongeBob and Cars in some of the graphics from this season. 

8️⃣ You had an opportunity for something unique in 2023 when Stephen Mallozzi, a driver for Reaume Brothers Racing (and an Outback Steakhouse waiter) decided to marry the two together into a primary paint scheme. What was that process, and did you feel any added pressure working with such a well-known brand along with the unique story behind it? 

Stephen told me about the idea while I was back home from college, and I remember one day he told me the concept we had pitched was something Outback was interested in. I’m sure many designers can relate to sending out pitches, and then never hearing anything back, but being able to get a huge brand back in our sport was so exciting. Outback really did help out a lot with feedback and requests on specific details, but there wasn’t too much pressure in a way, as Stephen is such a charismatic guy, I knew he would represent their brand very well — but I was really glad we got to create something that showcased the Outback branding both on-track with the paint scheme, but also with other elements, like the fire suit and hero card.

9️⃣ As you’re in the early stages of your design career in motorsports, what are your goals you’d like to achieve?

I feel as though I’ve truly accomplished more than I dreamed I would when I first started designing cars for fun as a kid, but just growing as a designer in any way I can is a huge goal. I would say making a graphic for a big win, like a championship or a Daytona 500 win is something I’d like to achieve in the future. We’ve had a couple chances in the past two years with MHR in the Trucks, and still have three in the Chase this year, so that hopefully is something we can check off this year.

🔟 Share a design tip for people just getting started. 

Don’t compare yourself to others, and just be creative. When I first got started designing, I did that a lot, but the more time you take to work on your craft, the better you will become at graphic design. 

For more from Fisher, follow FRG Designs on Instagram.