Dan Polyak is a versatile creative powerhouse…

with a career spanning music, drag, nightlife, entertainment, and beyond; his design has shaped the visual identities of some of the most iconic names in pop culture!

Born and raised in Chicago, Dan honed his craft at Columbia College Chicago, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Design with a focus on advertising art and printmaking. His career launched designing merchandise for pop-punk giants like Fall Out Boy, Cobra Starship, Panic! at the Disco, and Taking Back Sunday, with his work appearing online, in retailers, and on international tours.

In 2012, he became Art Director at the renowned Metro/SmartBar, where his bold typography, striking visuals, and vibrant color palettes caught the attention of artists like Chance the Rapper, CHVRCHES, The Faint, and Sleigh Bells. Simultaneously, he helped produce and rebrand QUEEN!, the legendary Chicago house and disco party. Under his creative and production lead, QUEEN! won multiple Chicago Nightlife Awards and shattered SmartBar’s 30+ year capacity records with lines around the block to get in.

By 2018, Dan transitioned into the world of drag and nightlife, becoming the go-to designer for branding, merch, and creative direction for some of the biggest names in RuPaul’s Drag Race history. He took on the role of Art Director for Shea Couleé, helping shape the iconic queen’s visual brand across multiple projects. Dan’s work quickly gained national attention, leading to features in Vogue, Paper Magazine, and GayTimes, with Print Magazine, INTO, and It’s Nice That all recognizing his impact on branding the drag world. [FuN fAcT: Dan has worked with a contestant from every American season of RuPaul’s Drag Race]

In 2022, Dan returned to his music industry roots, collaborating with Adam Lambert, David Guetta, Bebe Rexha, and Ava Max. His artwork for "I’m Good (Blue)" by David Guetta and Bebe Rexha soared #1 on the iTunes Worldwide Charts, amassing over 2 billion streams and earning him his first RIAA-certified platinum record!

2023 marked a career milestone as Dan collaborated with Britney Spears on multiple projects. He worked with Team Britney to redefine her brand direction, launching six designs for her "Legendary Quotes" collection, released alongside her record-breaking memoir The Woman in Me. Following its success, he designed the entire capsule collection celebrating the 25th anniversary of Britney’s iconic debut album “…Baby One More Time”.

In 2024, Dan expanded his role as a producer and visual director for the sold-out tour The Love Ball, starring Shea Couleé, Monet X Change, Jaida Essence Hall, Lala Ri, Luxx Noir London, and Tayce. He also developed a brand identity for Erika Jayne, which debuted on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 13 Finale, and collaborated with MTV, HeadCount, and World of Wonder to create a 16-foot voting rights mural emphasizing the importance of LGBTQIA+ voices being heard. His expertise in typography and branding was also recognized with a feature on The Typecast, Goodtype’s design and typography podcast.

Dan describes his aesthetic as “pixel perfect” with an intentional approach to design, making sure every project is not only visually striking but also thoughtfully personalized and socially relevant.