Close-up of a young man with short dark hair and blue eyes, focusing on his face and partially showing his forehead and cheek, with torn paper edges surrounding the image.

Vita Opus is a design studio located in Rapid City, South Dakota, and is owned and operated solely by actor, director, and graphic designer: Jeffrey Alan Smith.

What began as a self-taught website creation and Photoshop hobby evolved into a life-long passion. Jeffrey started learning Photoshop when he was about 12 years old. That hobby slowly grew into a useful skill when it came to website design, and throughout high school Jeffrey would pick up website projects.

Vita Opus was officially launched in 2005. In 2009, Jeffrey graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a double-major in Theatre Arts and Graphic Design.

Text that spells out 'EMOJI' with a glowing, bubble-like, textured style
Group of people on a stage, some holding musical instruments, in a dimly lit venue with graffiti-style art in the background.

Theatre is the fuel that burns the fire

Theatre is the reason Vita Opus got kick-started in the first place.

Following a massive opportunity to design the Department of Theatre and Dance’s publicity posters for three years at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Vita Opus had the momentum it needed to keep going and take on more clients.

As of 2026, Jeffrey has been heavily involved in theatre for 23 years. He has been involved in over 100+ theatre productions, whether it be in acting, directing, sound design, graphic design, or more.

Pictured: the cast, crew, and musicians of GREEN DAY’S AMERICAN IDIOT at the Firehouse Brewing Theatre (2019)

A grayscale bust sculpture with a pink, semi-transparent overlay showing a skull inside.
Sticker of a skull with a sunflower background.
Three colorful theater posters on a splattered paint background. The center poster promotes 'Poor Clare' by Chiara Atik at Catalyst Theater Company. The left poster is for 'MONEY' by Hugh Wheeler, and the right poster is for 'Love & Hate' with a broken heart graphic, scheduled for Valentine's Day cabaret.

Driven by artistic passion

Theatre and graphic design are equal passions in Jeffrey’s life. Without theatre, Jeffrey wouldn’t have graphic design and vice versa. Everything Jeffrey does is fueled by these artistic passions.

Poster design is a passion of Jeffrey’s because of the storytelling element. It’s theatrical in nature, which is why it is one of his favorite types of design services to provide clients with. It combines both of his worlds.

A young man with a serious expression is surrounded by flames and smoke, creating a fiery and intense scene.

Mental health advocacy

You will notice that a major theme of Jeffrey’s digital artwork involves mental health advocacy in some shape or form. Jeffrey is a major advocate of mental health and is very open and honest about his struggles with mental illness.

Digital artwork is just another storytelling medium that carries a message with it.

An illustration of a happy kitten lying on top of a human skull.

“An artist is a creature driven by demons. He doesn’t know why they choose him and he’s usually too busy to wonder why.”

— William Faulkner