Landon Cooper

With cultivating a career start in Graphic Design, Logos, and Branding, I made the transition to the world of digital design slowly over time. Grappling with a range of skills, I currently pride myself on focusing primarily within the digital mediums of the creative industry. Over time I've been grateful to have opportunities collaborating with brands on digital campaigns, activations, social, web, products, branding, ux, concept storytelling, problem solving—the whole spectrum.

I kicked off my career several years working in the Distance Learning Department at Old Dominion University creating initiatives for remote learning at the international level. I then moved over to advertising where I learned how to move fast and solve multiple problems simultaneously while collaborating with cross-functional teams. I did this at both full-time and freelance capacities. I now currently work in-house at Output as Sr. Visual Designer working between the intersection of Product Design and Product Marketing.

Growing up a multi-racial kid in a military family definitely had its challenging moments. Constantly picking up and moving was always difficult. The only constant was art and family. Fast forward, as life got tougher and had its trying chapters art continued to be a safe haven. It wasn't until 15 that I stumbled upon the online community of graphic designers creating content on YouTube that I became curious.

After becoming a first generation college graduate with a degree in Graphic Design, my passion was fully realized which gave me the desire to go all in. Though, the journey has never been easy.

Transitioning over to digital design years later, my passions suddenly transformed. Through my own personal experiences growing up mixed-race in a challenging upbringing, I grew a desire to represent creatives that come from, more diverse backgrounds.

Not as a company checkbox or quota. Not as a recruitment tactic. Simply to show that it's possible to make a positive impact in the field. There's a long-lasting barrier to entry in the creative industry. "Do you code? How many Awards to you have? Can you do digital? We make good work. Come be with the "in" crowd" and so on.

I hope to take part in a future where we can usher in a generation of creatives where you can come from different circumstances and backgrounds while still making a way and having equitable opportunities.

My approach as a Designer, is my approach as a person. Unapologetically me.

#realtalk