a true creative leader

Have you ever wondered how a powerhouse athletic program manages their creative branding?

With over 1,000 athletes across 36 sports, a staff of hundreds of employees, dozens of teams, it takes a strong leader to make sure that visual communication, teamwork, and attention to detail is forefront to become the best in the country.

Andy DeVito is the director of creative services and branding for the Ohio State Department of Athletics. Any of the biggest projects that Ohio State has undergone that represents the Scarlet and Gray... have probably passed through his hands. A few notable ones include:

Buckeye Inclusion

‍Gene Smith Leadership Institute‍

Buckeyes Care

100 Years of Ohio Stadium

With 17+ years under his belt in the creative industry for Ohio State,  Andy knows the Ohio State brand inside and out- the same brand reflected in all media, from video, to print, to web... and everything in between.

But not to be overlooked is his dedication to family, mentorship, and community.

Perhaps his most proud moments aren’t the creative projects that are seen by millions, not the output of the highest quality athletic content in the nation… but his family.

‍

LOCAL  BEGINNINGS

Andy was born and raised in Shelby, Ohio. After playing all the sports growing up, he attended the Mansfield branch of Ohio State University. After two years, he moved down to Columbus and passed the Entrance exam to get into the Visual Communications Program at the main campus- a program that has roughly a 20 percent(!) acceptance rate at the time of his application.

During his time at Ohio State, he became an intern at the athletics department for two years.

‍

"I grew up playing sports my whole life... so sports was in my blood. As soon as I was able to get an internship in the Athletics Department, I was like 'man... this is awesome.'"

‍

career trajectory

After graduating from the program in '07, he was immediately hired on staff in '07. That lead to a Lead Graphic Designer Position in '08... Which lead to his current position as Director of Creative Services in 2011, which is where he is currently.

Andy's career path is certainly one of loyalty and faith in the organization. I've spoken to some of the highest performing creatives in Ohio, and rarely do they stay in one institution throughout their entire career. Being a young creative... it's refreshing to see that 'success' doesn't have to look like promotions, raises, doing projects with various big-name brands...

It can look like Andy's career- one that offers variety, security, and the chance to collaborate and grow under a brand you get to know and love.

‍

"I haven't looked anywhere else... Ohio State is so unique in the people we hire and work with.. the people are awesome. I love working here. 16 years, and every single day is new and different."

‍

Looks like they haven't been able to get rid of him quite yet. ;)

‍

Day in the Life of a Creative Director

The core of Andy's job is managing the consistency of the brand, working closely with a team of skilled designers and creatives. This includes social media posts, print and web applications, and apparel as well.

Keeping the brand strong and consistent- while also remaining ambitious and exploring new mediums- is a tough balance to strike.

So how do the best in the nation pull it off?

‍

"That's the million dollar-question. It's a challenge, no doubt. we have a big team here- digital media, social media, video, photo, communications, live events, and marketing. We are constantly meeting, discussing, planning...
"Our students are a big help- we employ 20-25 of them. That's a lot. At Ohio State, we pride ourselves on the student experience- and we're always looking to help them, but also make sure they do great work"

‍

It's no secret that higher-level education can have a lot of "red tape" around branding, campaign targets, and shared objectives. When creative projects pass through so many hands, it can be hard to find common ground.

Andy is always quick to share credit and pay amends to his staff, and always looks forward to collaborating with other departments in the University. Check out the entire staff, and many of Andy's teammates, here.

‍

leadership

Andy doesn't take his role of influence lightly. Being in the same program for so many  years has allowed him to spot the traits of those who are going to be successful, and he leaps at the opportunity to help the high performers get to where they want to be.

‍

"My primary focus os to build up my team. How do I make them feel valued? Understanding them and helping them get to where they want to go."

‍

There have been a ton of rockstars that has come out of the creative program at Ohio State, and for him, one of the most rewarding parts of the job is seeing his mentees lead successful careers after they move on from the program.

‍

how to be successful

I asked Andy- "After 17+ years in the professional creative industry, what the traits, habits, features of the most successful students that pass through the program?"

This is what he said. Take notes.

‍

COMMUNICATION

"Someone who is willing to ask questions. Make sure you are getting thw most out of your opportunities and do not be someone who just shows up, does their work, and leaves. Go above and beyond."

‍

willingness to learn

"If you boss wants you to try a specific project, ask questions and learn how to do it. Give it your best."

‍

punctuality

"The pace here is just so much different... we are always juggling 100 projects at a time. Being on time is a big one, because that translates to the real world."

‍

open-mindedness

"Keep your mind open... knowing tat no matter what experience I have, it can translate and help me along the path of where I want to be. Your best job is your current job. Identify the gaps in your team, your organization, and find creative ways to solve them."

De-Vito de-tails (rapid fire questions)

‍

Ohio State Pantone Colors

200 and 429. (He had these instantly memorized. Shocker.)

‍

Favorite Buckeye Sporting Event

Football. But it has to be a good game... "not Western Kentucky. I'm telling ya', it ain't the same!"

‍

The [Buckeye] Family Tree

Andy is proudest of his family. Seeing how his eye lit up when asked, It's clear that his family is his biggest creative muse and source of joy.

The DeVito's consist of Andy's wife, Abby, and children Aidan and Addy. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the DeVito's are a super athletic family. Andy coached all of Aidan's sports, and Abby coached all of Addy's sports. Truly a family affair.

This is success.

Consistency.

Hard work.

Service.

These are the biggest traits I dissected in Andy's career that have made him successful.

The more I speak to high performing creatives, entrepreneurs, etc., a common theme in the happiest people is this:

A greater purpose towards the betterment of others, and sharing those moments with those they care about most.

And luckily... Andy didn't had to travel far from home to find it.

*

The ability to learn from others, especially those you admire, is truly a superpower. That's why I started this show... and it's also why I created the Business Owner's Essential Reading Database- to succinctly keep notes, find books at the cheapest price online, and use the information of those more successful than me to level up.