Meet Brian Favia | Chief Creative Officer

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

Hi Brian, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
The most difficult decision I had to make was switching career fields. I had studied computer animation in college with the goal of establishing myself in the video game industry as a 3D artist/animator. While I did enjoy a few years working on digital games for a few different studios, the industry became increasingly volatile and did not provide the job security or consistency that I needed. Over time, the lack of fulltime job openings became a major source of stress, both financially and psychologically.

As much as I wanted to continue pursuing my dream career, I had to take my skills where the jobs were. Even the transition was challenging, as many potential employers were unable to look past my lack of experience outside the games industry. Nevertheless, I eventually landed some freelance work in advertising, an opportunity that evolved into an Art Director role at a growing creative agency where I’ve been employed going on 6 years now. It can definitely be challenging to make changes to a career and a goal after being invested for so many years, but often it truly does work out for the best.

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.
As an artist I am largely driven by my desire to learn, improve and explore. I came out of college focused on 3D animation and rendering, but the job opportunities that followed got me adapted in 2D illustration, graphic design, user interface design, video production and much more. I have had to wear many hats in my career thus far, and I think I take most pride in my versatility and my ability to adapt. While its certainly possible to make a successful career as an artist being singularly focused on a specific art style or medium, I feel those who do can risk inhibiting their own creative growth that way. The most important lesson I learned, that I want others to remember, is that its okay to try new things and its okay to invest time in something that might not pan out, because you never really know what will click with you until you do it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Living in Chicago, there’s never a shortage of places to go and things to do! Of course I would tailor my itinerary to the visitor’s personal tastes, but at the top of my list would be a leisurely afternoon stroll around downtown on a nice day. Maybe around the Loop, Millenium Park, and/or the Magnificant Mile, among other spots. There’s just an indescribable sense of energy one gets while navigating through big city blocks surrounded by historic towering buildings, feeling the vibes of all the local neighborhoods as you explore. Its one of my favorite things to do in any city I visit, or even here at home when I need inspiration or just need to think in general.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my boss and close friend Brian Wilkins, for taking a chance with me at a time when nobody else would, and for always believing in me even when I sometimes don’t believe in myself.

Website: brianfavia.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfavia

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

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bfavia_art/

Image Credits
All image copyrights are owned by me alone.