Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Larson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Adam. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
From as young as I can remember, I was always interested in art. I was able to draw fairly well, and my mother encouraged that skill in me. I went to college knowing that I wanted to pursue art and chose illustration as my major.
It wasn’t until my second year in college that I discovered graphic design. Illustration majors shared studio space with design majors and I quickly became more interested in their assignments than my own. Simultaneously, I was discovering all kinds of new music. I became obsessed with music packaging, and how the artwork and design shaped ones experience with the music. Once I realized that graphic designers were making these gorgeous objects, I decided that’s what I wanted to do.
Upon graduating, I moved back to Boston, got a handful of part-time jobs, and started teaching myself graphic design. I worked with a local LGBT theater company designing posters and eventually amassed enough for a portfolio. With that, I landed my first full-time position as a designer for a music-based video game startup. That lead to my dream job as an in-house designer at the indie record label Rykodisc.
Due to the advent of the MP3, the music industry changed drastically, and Rykodisc was eventually bought. I freelanced for them for a while before taking a full-time position at Razorfish. It was the dot-boom era, and I knew little about designing websites but learned quickly on the job. Once the boom crashed, I reluctantly jumped into advertising, taking a design position at Arnold Worldwide. After 6 years, I left Arnold as a VP Creative Director to establish my own practice.
Having gained experience working across many disciplines with some of the world’s most respected brands, I felt it was time to do it on my own. I started Adam&Co. in 2007 with the intent of working closely with brands, individuals, institutions, and initiatives to provide well crafted, creative work. For the past ten years, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to do just that. I’m looking forward to evolving the company in the coming year.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?While I do feel very fortunate, I’ve definitely hit some bumps along the way. One of the biggest challenges for me has been balancing work and life. I genuinely love what I do, and as a result, I often prioritize it over other things, which can negatively impact personal relationships and friendships.
Learning the fundamentals of business was also a struggle for me. I came into the world of design through an interest in art, and while I’ve always enjoyed learning about business, my interests lied more about the creative and branding side of things. I’ve had my fair share of contractual snafus, challenging clients, and biting off more than I can chew. But, as those types of situations pass, they become learning experiences that ultimately help in the end.
Adam & Co. – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Adam&Co. is a branding and design consultancy. I’ve been operating as a studio of one up until recently when I took on a business partner to help evolve the company beyond just myself. We work with our clients to provide creative strategy, branding, graphic design, creative direction, art direction, campaigns, packaging, and environmental design.
We work with a very wide variety of clients ranging from celebrities and global fashion brands to local bakeries and non-profits. Our clients have included Beyonce, Madonna, Pharrell Williams, The Black Eyed Peas, P&G, J&J, Sony, Hyatt Hotels, MoMa, Absolut Vodka, Samuel Adams, Harvard University, MIT, New Balance, Nike, Puma, Keds, Converse, PF Flyers, Uniqlo and Hickey Freeman.
We strive to deliver fresh work that is strategic, creative, and of the highest quality. We are not limited by a specific aesthetic or style but rather inspired by the unique personalities of our clients.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success, for me, has always meant reaching my own self-imposed goals, and because goals change over time, the notion of success is always evolving. It is not necessarily a cumulative thing. Making a sustainable living while working as a designer was my career goal from way back, so by my own measures, I’ve succeeded professionally. However, my two biggest life goals have been to be happy, and to always be learning, two things that keep success something to continually strive for.
Contact Info:
- Address: Adam&Co.
450 Harrison Avenue Suite 304
Boston, MA 02118 - Website: http://www.adamnco.com
- Email: adam@adamnco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamnco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adamncompany
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/adamnco
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