Check Out Creed’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Creed .

Hi Creed, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in Chicago, and that city shaped everything about how I see the world. It’s one of the most culturally rich places on earth — where creativity and survival often intersect. Growing up, I experienced both sides of it: the rougher areas that sharpened my resilience and edge, and the diverse neighborhoods that exposed me to music, art, and fashion from every culture imaginable. Chicago taught me to pay attention — to design my surroundings, not just move through them. That mindset carried into my creative career. I started Xodustudios as a way to merge photography, film, and design into one visual language. Over time, that evolved into Architects of Mars, which became less about fashion and more about creating a house of ideas — a cultural studio where art, clothing, and sound orbit around the same philosophy of design and expression. Architects of Mars is evolving into a full-scale art house — a multidisciplinary studio where visuals, design, and philosophy coexist. The goal is to collaborate across mediums: from fine art prints and short films to immersive installations and curated drops that merge storytelling and fashion as one experience.
I see it becoming a cultural lab — where every release is a world in itself. The clothing will always exist, but as artifacts of something deeper — symbols from the worlds we create. It’s about designing culture with precision and intention, one visual at a time. People might be surprised how much of my creative language comes from the contrast of my upbringing. I can draw inspiration from a Basquiat piece the same way I can from a block party on the South Side. That mix of high art and raw culture gave me my perspective — that beauty and truth can coexist in any environment.
My work reflects that duality — refined but real, visionary but grounded. That’s Chicago in me. It’s why I create the way I do.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all. The creative road has been anything but smooth — it’s been a constant test of patience, belief, and adaptability. Growing up in Chicago shaped a lot of that. The city is full of rhythm and resilience — a cultural hub that celebrates creativity but also reminds you what survival looks like. I grew up moving between some of the rougher neighborhoods and some of the most diverse parts of the city, which gave me a unique perspective on contrast — beauty and struggle, art and chaos, vision and reality. That duality shaped my creative voice. Xodustudios was born from necessity — just me, a camera, and the desire to build something from nothing. It became my training ground, a creative production house where I could bring ideas to life through photography, film, and design. Over time, it also became the foundation for my next chapter — Architects of Mars.
Architects of Mars started as a fashion brand but evolved into an art house — a cultural imprint that expresses stories and emotion through visual art, sound, and clothing as an extension of the artwork. It’s less about apparel and more about creating worlds — culture-driven, cinematic, and deeply human.
Balancing Xodustudios and Architects of Mars has been challenging — they represent two sides of me. One is structured, service-based, and client-driven; the other is freeform, expressive, and built around creative philosophy. But they complement each other. The storytelling and design skills from Xodustudios help me bring sharper visuals and discipline to Architects of Mars, while the conceptual side of AOM feeds back into how I approach brand work for others.
And then there’s Cultured Foolishness — the talk show I co-host with my sister, where we explore pop culture, relationships, and the generational mindset shifts happening right now. It’s a space for humor, honesty, and cultural reflection, and it ties directly into everything I do creatively — telling stories that connect and challenge perspectives.
So no, it hasn’t been smooth. But every obstacle sharpened the vision. Every pivot made me more intentional. It’s all part of learning to build worlds from your imagination and bring them into the real one.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At my core, I see myself as a visionary architect of culture — someone who builds worlds through art, design, and storytelling. Everything I create connects back to that mission: to design experiences that move people emotionally, visually, and mentally. I operate through three main creative engines: Xodustudios, Architects of Mars, and Cultured Foolishness.
Xodustudios is my creative production company — specializing in photography, video, and design for artists, brands, and small businesses that want cinematic storytelling and a distinct visual edge. It’s where I translate raw ideas into full visual identities — from music videos and campaign content to brand imagery and visual design.
Architects of Mars is the evolution of that creative energy — an art house that blurs the line between visual art, fashion, and culture. What started as a clothing brand has grown into a storytelling platform that expresses ideas about identity, transformation, and legacy through art collections, apparel, and visual narratives. Each project is a world of its own — concept-driven, cinematic, and emotionally layered.
Then there’s Cultured Foolishness, a pop culture commentary show I co-host with my sister, Coach Tamara Simone. It’s a mix of humor, conversation, and cultural reflection — a space to unpack what’s happening in the world through an authentic, generational lens. We also host Top of the Top, a recurring segment I do with my frequent collaborator Nic Jr., where we break down current events, sports, and cultural moments with sharp perspective and humor. It’s that perfect balance of thought and entertainment — where intellect meets energy.
What I’m most proud of is that all of these platforms were built from the ground up — self-funded, self-taught, and fueled purely by vision and consistency. There’s no large team or corporate machine — just creativity engineered with purpose.
What sets me apart is how I move across mediums with one unified philosophy: art is architecture. Whether it’s a short film, a campaign, a conversation, or a piece of artwork, I approach it all like I’m designing a structure — something balanced, intentional, and meant to last. I’m not chasing trends; I’m building blueprints. At the end of the day, everything I create — whether it’s through Xodustudios, Architects of Mars, or Cultured Foolishness — comes from the same core purpose: to build culture with intention. My work is about bridging creativity and consciousness, giving form to emotion, and leaving behind blueprints that inspire others to create freely.
Xodustudios represents the builder in me — the craftsman focused on visuals, storytelling, and bringing ideas to life through film, design, and photography.
Architects of Mars is the dreamer — the art house dedicated to turning those ideas into worlds, where visuals and sound meet philosophy,and Cultured Foolishness is the voice — the platform for conversation, humor, and perspective, where we get to talk about the culture we’re all shaping in real time.
All three feed each other. Together, they form one continuous vision: art as architecture, creation as purpose.
I believe we’re all here to build something that outlives us — something that speaks to who we were and what we believed. That’s the blueprint I’m trying to leave behind.
To connect or collaborate, you can find my work through:
Website: www.xodustudios.com
 Art House: www.architectsofmars.com
 Culture & Commentary: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@culturedfoolishness

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about Los Angeles is the access — not just in terms of opportunity, but in culture. It’s one of the few places in the world where so many creative worlds collide — music, art, fashion, and film all breathing the same air. There’s this sense that if you have something to say or build, the city has the resources and the energy to help you manifest it. You can literally meet your next collaborator or inspiration just by walking into the right room at the right time. Coming from Chicago, I really value that level of cultural access — it’s something you don’t take for granted when you’ve seen both the grit and the beauty of a city that taught you how to create with limited resources. In L.A., the palette is bigger — and that can be inspiring. The natural landscape alone adds balance to the grind: the beach, the mountains, the desert, the endless light. It’s a reminder that you can build your dreams and still find stillness when you need it.
I also love how diverse the city is when it comes to food and expression. You can taste the world in one weekend here — Korean BBQ in K-Town, tacos on the East Side, vegan soul food in Inglewood. The city is like a creative buffet if you know where to look.
What I like least is the illusion that sometimes comes with that access. There’s a certain “user mentality” that can exist here — people connecting more for opportunity than for authenticity. It can make the city feel transactional if you’re not grounded in who you are. That’s something I had to learn early — to stay solid in my vision, because not everyone you meet is looking to build, some are looking to borrow energy.
And even with all the movement and people, L.A. can still feel lonely at times. Everyone’s chasing something — and that chase can isolate you if you’re not careful. But that solitude can also be fuel. It forces you to get clear on your voice, your mission, and what truly matters.
For me, Los Angeles is a paradox — both a test and a teacher. It gives you access to everything you could dream of, but it also makes sure you know who you are before you try to claim it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.architectsofmars.com, www.xodustudios.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/architectsofmars/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AOMLo-Fi
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/xodustudios/