"If I wasn't myself [through my work] then it really wasn't worth doing. I don't see why anyone would wanna do something where they just have to just kind of put on a mask everyday and pretend to be something they're not. I just wanted to be myself and see where it would lead me."
One of New York's finest, Jon Contino is on the podcast this week. Jon is a designer, illustrator, letterer and creative director based out of upstate New York. His work has adorned apparel, digital, print and environmental graphics for the likes of Nike, Jordan Brand, ESPN the Magazine, Sports Illustrated, IBM, Microsoft, Miller Lite and more.
Jon talks about his upbringing in Long Island, NY and how being a passionate baseball and New York Hardcore music fan plays into the reasoning and inspirations behind why he became a designer.
He also gives us some insight into the ups and downs of starting an agency while learning on the fly, as well as tells a few stories about how his former agency OneTwentySix Design Studios spun off into the apparel brand CXXVI Clothing Company with rejected client work.
We discuss how important it is to work with clients that trust you and allow you to be yourself through your work. Jon tells a story of how he made the transition of being a "do everything for everybody" type of person to a "do my own style" type of stop.
Lastly Jon touches on the importance of equity in one's name versus a made up brand name, as well as how frightening and expensive starting an menswear lifestyle brand is.
Show Links:
Jon Contino
Follow Jon on Twitter
Ogilvy Paris
Monotype Foundry
CXXVI Clothing Company
Contino Brand Mfg. Co.
Scotch Time Podcast in iTunes
Scotch Time Podcast on Soundcloud
Major Level Creative Connect 2015
My next guest is Jeremy Darlow of Adidas where he a Director of Brand Marketing for football and baseball. Jeremy is also the author of the book, Brands Win Championships.
Did you enjoy this episode? Then please rate and/or write a review of the show on iTunes. Also, be sure to follow show, @MakersofSport, as well @TAdamMartin on Twitter and Dribbble.
tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/210375067