Eric-Shabazz Larkin was trained as an artist, but has spent most of his career as a designer, art director and creative firector in some of the largest ad agencies and some of the most creative small ad agencies in the world.

His client list is as diverse as it is long: Nike, Coke, Heinekin, Smirnoff, Beyer, Rolex, Macy's, Nuun, Virginia State University, Pacifico Beer, Pepsi, Nokia, Microsoft, Amazon and more.

As a creative director responsible for interviewing and hiring creatives, he's payed close attention to what makes him want to work with someone and what makes him want to pass their book to someone else.

Eric got a master's in advertising at the #1 school in the industry, the VCU Brandcenter in Richmond Virginia and got his bachelors in advertising at Virginia Commonwealth University as well.

On the other hand, he is a self-taught designer that learned to design making posters for bands and local concerts for free. So he understands the need of the boot-strap designer.

After all his education, he feels like, it was all a waist. All you need to know to break into the industry, you can learn in matter of hours and put in to action in a matter of weeks and be working as soon as you want. He's helped many creatives, that has come to him for advice, do that very thing.

He started his own production and design agency called "Creative School of Thought." (www.creativeschoolofthought.com) It was originally created to teach this very thing, creativity to all those that kept asking him to mentor them. But after, realizing the emmense talent he kept running up against, he instead pivoted the company to just learn things by practice. No fake projects, he just works on huge projects and brings along as many people that are willing to learn with him.

Eric-Shabazz Larkin

Wisdom Reigns Supreme

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