Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd Radom.
Hi Todd, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in a family of artists—I was one of those kids who was always doodling and drawing. I attended college at the School of Visual Arts in New York, where I now serve as Chairman of the Board of the SVA Alumni Society. Art school in New York City in the early 1980s was a formative experience, to say the least—it was an altogether different city back then; dirty, more than a little dangerous, and a lot more affordable than it is today, pulsating with energy and abundant creativity. During my first two years there, 1982-83, I lived in a tiny room at the Sloane House YMCA, at the corner of 34th Street and Ninth Avenue, soaking in the good, the bad, and the ugly of NYC. It was a great time to be young and creative, and some of the friendships I made back than endure all these years later. I graduated in 1986 and went to work in book publishing, designing covers and jackets for a couple of big firms. All the while I was freelancing, woking with advertising agencies, design firms, magazine and book publishers, specializing in hand lettering, when it was actually done by hand—I set off on my own in 1990 and have worked as an independent creative ever since. I fell into sports design at a very singular moment, when leagues were setting up their own creative services departments and a slew of expansion teams were coming on board across all pro sports leagues. This was also a time when fashion, streetwear, and sports were beginning to intersect, and licensing was exploding.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m fortunate in the sense that I grew up in a family of artists. While a career in the arts was never implicitly encouraged, it wasn’t discouraged either. Creative people really do see things in a different way, and the fact that I had these role models all around me continues to influence me. That said, a creative career is not necessarily easy. I’ve witnessed the transition from analog to digital, have navigated my way through multiple economic downturns, and have seen trends come and go, and here I am, still doing what I have enjoyed doing for all these years,
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Sports matters. Sports fans are exposed to design every hour of every day, often from a very early age. Logos and uniform designs connect generations of fans who follow their favorite teams daily, sometimes obsessively. Every day, millions of people around the globe display their passion for sports as they devote countless hours and many billions of dollars to this important aspect of popular culture. The graphic traditions of professional sports in America are deeply embedded in the fabric of our communities, from the red-clad Cardinal fans of St. Louis to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where the entire city shows its colors on Packers’ game day. Logos and uniform designs connect generations of fans who follow their favorite teams daily, in the ultimate display of brand loyalty. I’ve been involved in this world for more than thirty years, creating visual identities and uniforms for leagues, teams, and big events. I created the official logo for Houston’s Super Bowl XXXVIII, the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, the 2014, 2016, and 2018 MLB All-Star Games, the graphic identities of multiple Major League Baseball teams—including the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels—and league, team identity, and branding for Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league. I was part of the team that rebranded the Astros prior to the 2013 season and was involved in the look of Houston’s 2016 NCAA men’s Final Four basketball tournament. Making things look nice is part of what I do, but my knowledge of the dynamics involved and my research and writing abilities help set me apart.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
The world is such a turbulent place, especially these past few years, so I think finding happiness calls for digging deep and being introspective. I really do believe that happiness starts with perspective, and I try to be mindful of that every single day. Our individual paths to happiness vary, and I am always aware of the fact that professional happiness and personal happiness often converge for me. Making a living as a creative individual can be challenging to say the least, but the satisfaction and pure joy of making things is as strong for me today as it was 50 years ago. I’m grateful for a good many things, but being able to do what I do, every day is no small thing. I’m often called upon for career advice, and I have a mantra that I come back to often: “curate your life.” I try to surround myself with a diverse range of creative and positive people—this is one of the things that makes me happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: toddradom.com
- Instagram: @toddradom
- Twitter: @ToddRadom
