Isaiah Browning
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“That’s a simple question with a lot of different answers. If I had to describe what I do in one encompassing response, I guess it would be an artist.”
I’ve had the privilege of growing up in a time where information and skills are limitless due to the internet, which has allowed me to explore many different mediums of art and creativity. I’ve adapted the mantra that you have to figure it out if you want to create or do something. This has pushed me to develop a multitude of skills, including design, photography, writing, and filmmaking. I graduated with a Studio Arts degree in design, which is the compass of all my endeavors and the starting block for whatever project I am working on.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
My journey started in high school when I became friends with the weird art kids cause they liked my red hair and shared a love for Avatar: The Last Airbender. From there, I had the pleasure of creating and falling in love with art through experimentation and curiosity. This led me to graduate from Loyola Marymount University with a Studio Arts degree in design. My experience forced me to sharpen my technical skills while keeping the fire for experimentation and curiosity stoked. I believe it is the balance of these two ideas that have pushed me farther in developing my style and voice than anything I could have imagined.
How do you stand out in your field?
I believe I stand out from the field due to my entry point into design and art. I didn’t discover my passion for art until I was older, which made me an outsider in the art community entering college. This created a chip on my shoulder to become a better artist and designer through a dedicated work ethic. I’ve carried this with me into my professional career in finding my voice and style, with the understanding that my voice is unique to myself. I approach problems with the idea that if I don’t have the answers, I will work tirelessly to find or listen and learn from someone who does.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I am currently working on a couple of different projects with friends ranging from film to fashion design. My favorite part of being an artist is the freedom it affords in exploring a multitude of mediums.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
My perspective and taste inform my style. I grew up in Hawaii, surrounded by a surf and skate culture that represented outsiders and anti-establishment sentiment. These roots permeate through the lens of which I view art and culture. I love weird and exciting voices that are unique to themselves and strive to bring those voices to the table. I find my style is found in combining the odd with the known in a happy dance. A project representing this for me is a pair of custom Air-Force 1's I created for a creative collective my friends started. I wanted to take a known and successful commodity and present it in a completely different light. In addition to creating the shoes' design, I also was the art director behind all the promotional assets for the shoes.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
This might be a weird answer, but I don’t feel like I’m neglecting any specific skill or industry. My art and design work allows me to work on a myriad of projects that require me to use a lot of my abilities. If I ever feel an urge to work on another skill or industry, I often pursue that on my own to develop that skill, which I can implement in a more significant project for a client.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
This is easy, the world—what a time to reflect and listen and learn as we’re collectively at a crossroads.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
I would hire someone for the clerical work of being a designer and artist. As an independent designer and artist, I am not only a designer and artist but also a manager, assistant, studio head. It’s a lot of work but a part of the process.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I would tell myself to continually learn and explore all avenues of what it means to be a designer and artist in the 21st century. I would implore myself to learn business skills and understand that the more you can add to your toolbox, the more successful and free you will be.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
I would love to learn the mistakes made by the expert. It's my opinion that everyone has a different route to success, so it wouldn't be helpful to hear that person's achievements, but rather, the mistakes they made in an honest reflection of their story. I would want to learn as much possible from them and add it to my toolbox.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I’m looking for opportunities and projects that are both creatively and professionally fulfilling. I want opportunities that challenge and also propel me in my career. I believe these opportunities will make me a better designer and artist.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
My ideal job lets me explore and collaborate while challenging me as a designer and artist. I like working with people who want to engage in thoughtful dialogue about the project and work together to make the best product.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
You can reach me on Instagram, my email and check out my website!
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Cause can, bah.
This member profile was originally published in x 2020.