Daily Inspiration: Meet Josiah Reese

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Josiah Reese.

Hi Josiah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I started as the typical artist or designer drawing as a kid. Towards the end of high school, I began looking for different applications to turn something I always naturally did into a career. I leaned into marketing with a focus on advertising, which took form as my major in a short stint in college.

Sophomore year a family friend who was leading his own agency that was well established in the City and Atlanta, noticed my work and brought me in. From there, I worked my way up, gaining experience and network each job and opportunity. With the support of my community, a well-versed and multitalented family – I’m currently a graphic designer at Saucony while freelancing and directing/producing over at Modest Saki.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been smooth; in the past four years, I’ve been laid off twice. A career in art or design is not for the light-hearted. There’s so much that is objective, but ultimately, there’s just as much subjectivity. It comes down to your personal taste, and that taste is challenged every day.

It’s just a blessing that during those lay-offs, I was still good because I had a plethora of projects with friends, clients, and family that kept me. So the work I created during that time just led me into another position each time. So, even though it hasn’t been smooth, it’s always been manageable. I also say that with grace and understanding, knowing it’s not like that for everyone.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe you can tell us more about your work next?
I specialize in graphic design, branding, identity, art direction, film/video editing and directing, and traditional and digital illustration. I definitely do a few of those things much better than the others, but they are all skills I encompass and have utilized. It’s ultimately up to others what they’d identify me with the most, but I would think graphic design is rightfully so at the top of that list.

The most favorable projects of mine have been ones where I get to wear many hats and utilize at least more than one of those skills. I worked with some of my family to honor and document our late great-grandfather by retooling an interview he sat down with my brother during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.

I like to identify myself as a storyteller, and I appreciate real, authentic stories. Producing documentation of my grandfather’s words for his loved ones to always have and look back on has been my closest thing to that.

What makes you happy?
Finished projects, finished ideas, genuine approaches to storytelling, a slice of life, and simplicity.

Contact Info:

• Website: reesejosiah.com – modestsaki.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reesejosiah_/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reesejosiah/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/PEalrBuqWY8?si=flM0fTBySQrl7d4K
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/modestsaki/sets/sakisound?si=b31b40d59861454f99bd2717f91e1bd4&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Image Credits
Uncle El Capture – Jay Lee and Justin Jamal