We had the good fortune of connecting with Greg Chinn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Greg, what matters most to you?
In my work as a creative, I value the principle of staying true to my inner aesthetic with everything I produce. Each project is a reflection of my personal brand of eclectic modernism which is a perpetual work-in-progress. I take inspiration from the various places I’ve lived or visited. Like a local chef who sources seasonal ingredients and creates regional dishes, I mix all the local cultural styles/iconography together and craft a unique visual vernacular. I am constantly exploring my neighborhood and the surrounding communities. The conceptual confluence of Hawaii and East/West Coast ideologies continue to inform my work along with guiding the aesthetic sensibility of my company, The Local Brand Co.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My story is that I’m inspired by my roots in Hawaii. The term “Local” means someone who is familiar with the culture and knows the ins and outs of that particular lifestyle. As technology has connected people, the world has gotten much smaller. Our cultural influences are global. We’re just a few clicks away from each other. No matter where you live in the world, we have all become “Local”. So I’ve simply named my branding/graphic design company, The Local Brand Co. I’m really proud of the work I create because I feel that each has a personalized visual identity.

Wherever I’ve lived, collaborating with neighborhood businesses has always been the cornerstone of my work. Whether on the East/West Coast or Hawaii, these local businesses are the key to how a community functions. Equally important is how that particular business is perceived and the impression it exudes. I have been lucky to have worked with forward-thinking clients who are looking for something visually fresh with a strategic backbone. I always implement my eclectic brand of modernism and conceptual rigor to each project I’ve worked on. This particular characteristic sets me apart from others.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
With Summer around the bend, my wife/kids and I love hosting gatherings at our house in Laurel Canyon. We live in a small cottage with an open floor plan. We open all our doors and windows to hear the wonderful canyon chatter of nature. People mill around the house while probably “Viva Bossa Nova!” by Laurindo Almeida & The Bossa Nova All Stars or something by Khruangbin spinning on vinyl in the background. My wife Amanda would prepare some tasty eats, and proper seasonal cocktails would be plentiful. Peace to all!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to recognize a slew of the amazing people I work with like The Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Foundation Executive Director Sarah Fairchild, Editor Clay Steakley, Museum Curator Dr. Frank MItchell, Chef/Entrepreneur Anna Cherubini, Academic Dr. Dexter Choy, Ph.D and Kona Brewing Company Marketing Director Eric Chang. The collaboration we do and have done on a yearly basis is very gratifying on so many levels and I appreciate all the confidence they have in me.

Website: www.thelocalbrandco.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelocalbrandco_la/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-chinn-63180238/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLocalBrandCoLosAngeles/

Image Credits
The image is Greg at the Yew House (1957) by architect Richard Neutra in Silver Lake, CA. Photo by Paul Grandchamp.

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