JAMIE KOVAL

Jamie Koval joined VSA Partners in 1990, when it was an eight-person design office. As Principal, he played an instrumental role with his partners in building an internationally recognized, multi-disciplinarian design agency with more than 120 employees and offices in Chicago, New York and Minneapolis. Koval's passion is in blurring the lines between business, strategy and design. Professionally, he has always pushed the boundaries of his role as a designer, always asking "where does design end?" He is extremely interested in the larger role design plays and in developing new ways that design can function as an organizing principle and changecatalyst for companies.

VSA has had the opportunity to partner with some of the most respected brands in the world including BP, Gap, GE, Harley- Davidson, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Mohawk Fine Papers and Nike/Converse. And among the highlights, VSA cites creating the name, positioning and identity for Cingular Wireless, designing for Dalai Lama and co-leading the identity and brand program for the Chicago's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Koval is the recipient of more than 200 national and international design awards with his work in the collection at the Library of Congress. He also is a National Board Member of the AIGA, Committee Chair of Center for Sustainability Design and an advisor to Project M. A graduate of The University of Kansas, Koval was one of 12 selected to attend Kent State.

Where were you born, where do you live, did this effect your design style or sensibilities? I was born in Chicago and live just north of the city where basically I spent most of my childhood. I have worked almost my entire career as a designer in Chicago (besides a three year stint in Aspen Colorado) and yes, absolutely. I'm prewired with a modern aesthetic. I appreciate things that are well-crafted as well as hard work and humility.

If you were not a designer, what would you be? A filmmaker or I'd teach skiing.

What is your design process, do you sketch first, go to the computer, take days off to get inspired? It's always a linear process. However, I work a lot in teams and we typically begin with language. From there it's a combination of sketching, cutting, sourcing imagery, working on the computer, reading, in no particular order. We share where we are, determine what's interesting, then repeat until we find a compelling solution.

What is one thing you have done to help weather the economic downturn? Focused on growing existing relationships.

What is your greatest strength and weakness as a designer? I'm very critical.

YOUR DESIGN HERO?
Eero Saarinen

WORST HABIT?
Fashionably late

FAVORITE COLOR?
Green

FAVORITE TYPEFACE?
Bulmer

FAVORITE TV SHOWS?
Leave it to Beaver, Entourage

FAVORITE BOOKS?
Into Thin Air, John Krakauer; Luna Bella Luna, Paul Elledge

FAVORITE MOVIES?
The Graduate, Rear Window, Fargo

FAVORITE MUSIC?
Shins, Matt Costa, REM

FAVORITE FINE ARTIST?
Christo

FAVORITE GADGET?
The bicycle

BOOKMARKED WEBSITES?
Youtube, Wright20, skireport

BEST GIFT YOU EVER RECEIVED?
My three children

ONE THING YOU NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT?
iPhone

ONE THING YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT?
Humor

TALENT YOU WISH YOU POSSESSED?
The ability to fly