Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Kosowski.
Evan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When I was young I played in a bunch of bands and thought music would be my calling, that was, until my first band needed some t-shirts and a website. Drawing logos and designing things was something I did a bunch as a kid so naturally, I was quick to raise my hand. A website and a t-shirt turned into a bunch of websites and T-shirt designs for my bands and other local bands. Once I realized this hobby could be a “job” there was never a point where I looked back… I knew what I’d be focusing my life on. After that, it’s just a little hard work, focus, and determination.
Has it been a smooth road?
Is it ever a smooth road? If it is you’re probably doing something wrong. I remember graduating from college with a fine arts degree thinking I’d have it made, only to find out that working at the mall was a more realistic reality. I worked 2 jobs back to back at about 70+ hours a week solid to save up to move somewhere with a better market only to find that it might not have been the market all along. After getting to Southern California my job hunting period had come to a close so I applied at a bunch of retail jobs. I spent my first two months here re-writing my resume and re-designing my portfolio. No Luck. An hour before my first day at the prestigious Target I got a call from a potential employer, who ended up telling me to come in that day. I ended up getting an offer that night.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Right now, I’m working with a team to completely reimagine a digital entertainment product everyone is familiar with. The work includes everything from the product itself to the branding and advertising campaigns. Cannot wait for that one to launch publicly.
Since I can’t say much more about the project, my proudest moment to date would have to have been being a part of a team that helped the popular smartphone case brand Lifeproof go from a small few man operation to being bought out by Otterbox a few years later. My previous agency, Digital Operative, was the agency of record for everything digital which played a large role in the success of the company. Of course, it helped that that make a hell of a product.
Seeing physical boxes in-store of Giro helmet packaging I helped design was definitely up there, along with some great awards and recognition through digital and print media.
Tell us more about the struggles you’ve faced along the way.
For me, struggles are around just about every bend but it’s in these struggles where the most growth comes from, and often times, some of the best work. When you are forced out of your comfort zone, you can capitalize on the challenge ahead and see it as an opportunity to push yourself and the work. The best place to be is just far enough past your skillset where you are uncomfortable but qualified enough to produce great work.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
It really is one of the best cities there is for a career in creative arts, and it is becoming even better with the influx of technology companies grabbing hold of the west side. L.A. has anything and everything one could imagine to work on, from record labels, film studios & TV to tech marvels like Space X and everything in between. From someone who started their career in San Diego where the market is much smaller, LA is positioned to give you an incredible career trajectory because of the diversity of jobs and niches. You are never locked into a job or career you aren’t happy with due to the circumstances of the market.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.evankosowski.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/evanwilliamk
Image Credit:
Scion images were created at Huge for Toyota Motor North America. CoffeCargo imagery was created at Digital Operative and photographed by Tommy Mcadams. O’neill imagery was a study and is not affiliated with the company. Adam Elmakias’ website was created for Adam but was not the final chosen design; the production version can be seen at adamelmakias.com. L.A. landmarks were created for Simple.city but have not yet been published.
