Meet Kyle DeSean Johnson | Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kyle DeSean Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyle DeSean, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
My creativity is sparked by old family albums, record covers, old camera lenses and their boxes, interior design shows, Monocle Magazine, and the color orange. But if you see me out and about I’m usually wearing some kind of olive or heritage evergreen clothing. To feed my inspiration, each month I head out to the Long Beach Antique Market with my camera, taking snaps of objects that have caught my eye. I’m able to spot the slightest hints of orange and amber through a plethora of objects, swooping in like a hawk with intent.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I lead a small branding and design studio called Bullet Art Direction & Design. I specialize in creating visual identities for a range of clients in the beauty industry and most recently in the non-profit sector. Through thoughtful design, I help brands convey their values to their customers as well as reach higher visibility on and off-line. In total, I have over twenty years of experience with a little over ten of those as a solo creative.

What sets my business apart is my niche which helped me to make very strong connections from a somewhat small pool. As I moved around the industry to gain experience, so too did the marketers whom I had the chance to work with. And as they moved up the corporate ladder from brand managers to directors, they remembered my work ethic and passion for creativity and so they brought me on to work out new product launch initiatives and concepts.

Being a creative was fun but the difficult part was taxes, invoices, and figuring out what to charge. Over the years I determined what services I was comfortable offering and what payment structures and fees supported my goals. Hiring a CPA was definitely the best thing I could have done for my business.

As I have aged I am being presented with the challenge of making my work known to younger brands. I was in my mid-twenties when I first began my career in the health and beauty field. It’s not that my taste and liking are trapped in a time bubble, but I do have a style of design that I present to my clients. It’s bold, but not trendy and I’m confident that my expertise will still be valued for many years to come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When it comes to sightseeing I am always keen to take my friends to the low-tide pools in Rancho Palos Verdes. Whether it’s Abalone Cove or Pelican Point, no matter how many times you visit, the scenery is alien and astounding. https://www.rpvca.gov/facilities/facility/details/Abalone-Cove-Shoreline-Park-1

After transversing the rocks and checking out the sea life, we head to Lomita to eat at my favorite spot, Kotosh. Kotosh is a Peruvian-Japanese restaurant serving up immensely delicious favorites like Lomo Saltado, Arroz Chaufa, Seafood Chicharrón as well as unique sushi rolls. I love their Acebichado Roll and the Fabulous Roll with its shiso-leaf taste.
https://kotosh-restaurant.com/

I also like to visit TAM or the Torrance Art Museum. It’s a hidden treasure with a nice offering of exhibits. Plus it’s free for the family with plenty of available parking.
https://www.torranceartmuseum.com/visit

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
That person would undoubtedly be Sabre Mochachino! Way before I had my own design studio, when I was just beginning to explore the possibilities of working for myself, Sabre, a talented fashion designer who had relocated from NY, was there to offer tons of encouragement. We met in 2005 to collaborate on a fashion shoot. With our idea sketches spread across an ironing board, we talked project details, deep house music, comics, and our future aspirations. Before we knew it, over five hours had passed from what should have been a one-hour discussion. Since then we became great friends and have produced several photo shoots in Los Angeles, New York, and Florida. Whenever I had any kind of doubts about my future, Sabre would crush them and offer powerful words of encouragement to continue walking my path.

Website: www.bullet-ad.com

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