Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Sawitoski.
Eric, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’m a born-and-raised Chicago creator and studied design and photography in college. My first job after school was graphic design in a service bureau. The creative process started for me by doing things by hand- traditional paste-up work while also using a computer. To me- computers, cameras (film or digital) and even phones are just tools. Design and creative execution is driven by a set of principles applied to solve a problem or communicate an idea. The tools we use will always change but the creative execution has to be grounded in design/creative theory.
Today I’m focused in two areas- building creative teams and photography. Most recently I spent over a decade executing the creative brand strategy for a global fortune 250 company. This took me around the world leading teams of creatives in London, Chicago and Singapore. It was in Singapore that I developed a strong relationship with Leica Camera. I’m currently a brand ambassador for the Leica SL camera in Southeast Asia. I’ve been lucky enough to work with Lollapalooza, WWD, Michigan Avenue Magazine, Nike, Off-White, Dover Street Market, Etihad, Stolen, Haight House, Manchester United and Manchester City along with many others.
Has it been a smooth road?
When I was young, a mentor said to me, “everything informs.” I didn’t think much about it at the time but looking back at my work, I think there is a truth to it. When I’m speaking with younger creatives there’s always the questions- how did you get to where you are? I’ll ask in return, “what inspires you?” I think by starting with quiet observation we’re allowed to see the world more clearly and be open to things creatively. Life cycles differently for everyone. Ups- downs- highs- lows- they all have a way of impacting work. Travel also has a way of shaping perspective. I spent the past four years living in Southeast Asia and being exposed to many different cultures. It forced me to completely rethink my approach to creative in a very basic sense. Everything I had done prior to moving abroad was rooted in Western thinking. A constant challenge can be becoming sedentary or comfortable. Or overlooking the obvious. By changing your perspective, reaching outside what you’re doing daily, you can push yourself to grow. Be open to change and always ready to listen to how someone presents a problem or challenge.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The core of what I do is a being a creator. I build creative teams and structure for large organizations to execute creative. Currently I’m a creative director and an ambassador for Leica Camera. I spent the past decade building and managing the brand strategy/execution for Aon. This included managing teams in three different geographies and implementing the process to migrate to a master brand strategy. Part of this strategy leveraged focusing on one global partner to increase awareness and gain preference in the purchase decision. Aon launched its partnership with Manchester United in 2010 working with the number team in the number one sport- Manchester United. People originally questioned why I would commit to a single client in professional services. The decision turned out to be the greatest move for me both professionally and personally.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Chicago is the center for everything creative. Music, fashion, tech and design are all thriving in our city. The greatest advice someone gave me was to build your personal brand and network. What do you want to be known for? – If it’s fashion- get connected. Virgil Abloh is now the creative director for Louis Vuitton and he’s from just outside Chicago. Researching people and how they got to where they are is a great way to start reaching out and finding ways to immerse yourself in a practice or scene. What did they do to start, where did they work, what were their obstacles? Finding ways to connect through professional organizations or even through social media is a way to quickly start building your network. The key is to be persistent but never annoying.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elawcreative.com/
- Email: esawitoski@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eric_sow/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eric.sawitoski.1
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/eric_sow
Jaden Smith
Virgil Abloh
Image Credit:
Cover photo: ©Daniel Klutznick 2018
All photos ©Eric Sawitosk 2018
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