Meet Isaiah Thompson | Sports Graphic Designer

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

Hi Isaiah, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
As a kid I always enjoyed sports and drawing. I played basketball since I was three years old and always liked to draw growing up. In 2020 going into 2021, which was my senior year of high school, COVID-19 Quarantine had us doing school online and our basketball team’s season was on hold. I started exploring other things that I liked to do which was playing video games. I found I wanted to become an NBA 2k YouTuber and streamer. I started editing my videos and making my own YouTube Channel art and thumbnails with my phone. I realized during this time I liked the process of creating art and thumbnails more than actually recording YouTube videos. I started to come across many sports’ graphic designers on Instagram and YouTube and saw this as a great opportunity to bring together two things I am very passionate about: sports and art!!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My pathway to becoming an entrepreneur and developing my own graphic design business has not been easy, but it has been rewarding. My creativity is reflective in each art piece in exploring various styles and coming up with compositions that are unique and different. I am most proud of my work for a sports media company and recent completion of sports illustrations for a book project. I am also excited to explore other genres besides sports. This includes creating business logos, music album covers, etc. My branding and business are still a work in progress; and with every job and business opportunity I am learning new communication skills, meeting new people, and seeing new business models. One of the lessons I’ve learned along the way has been changing my perspective and to not underestimate what I am capable of. Understanding that challenges faced along the way are not happening to you but happening FOR you. My belief is in divine timing and patience.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As someone who is more of a low-key person, I would take my friend on a nearby hiking trail and Malibu Beach, then make a pitstop at Nobu for a great lunch and view of the ocean. I would also take them to the new SoFi Stadium to watch a football game or the new home of the LA Clippers the Intuit Dome. There is a chance to bump into any one of your favorite celebrities.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I developed anxiety shortly after Covid Quarantine hit in 2020. There are a few different people that I would like to recognize that were a source of support and encouragement to me at that difficult time. My parents were by my side and there for me during my sudden difficult mental health struggles. They also supported my vision with where I wanted to take my graphic designing career. My high school varsity basketball coach, Jon Bent was very supportive and believing in my ability to still play basketball my senior year while still experiencing severe anxiety and panic attacks. I am very thankful to say that I have people that cared about me and showed their belief in me in challenging times.

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXSJ2AbI0l_WaBVK2Qqp-bQ