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

Hi Keith, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Keep going or give up? That’s an interesting question and comes up often in my circle of creative friends and colleagues. Should I continue on my own? Maybe I should go back into a larger corporate role? Maybe pivot completely and go tend bar! We have all felt this way and most likely said it out loud at one point of the journey. I think it’s normal and part of the process….believe me, you are not alone.

Being an entrepreneur is scary at times and each day brings new challenges. The hustle is real. There is NO safety net, but maybe that’s part of why we enjoy it and why it’s exciting. If it was easy then everybody would do it. Working for yourself, choosing which opportunities to pursue, but the most important thing to ask yourself…why go backwards?

Giving up to me isn’t something that comes to mind. I get to do what I love for a living, and I feel very fortunate to work with brands and other creatives who inspire me. My wife Dani and I have a saying in our home we use often. “Onward & Upwards…always!”

 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Having a background as a musician and then working at a high level in the fashion/retail world for 25+ years gave me a very different point of view when it comes to my design approach. I never went to college or a traditional design school, only through trial and experience I was able to create my own style of creative direction and a unique process of mentoring teams and collaborating with clients.

I spent my first four years in fashion as a designer and illustrator at Polo Ralph Lauren. Being immersed in that amazing culture of talent was influential and inspiring, enriching in me the endless lesson that brand concept and quality are paramount. I then spent fourteen years at American Eagle Outfitters, where I honed my brand building and team leadership skills running multiple areas of design and marketing teams. The AE Eagle Icon is my most highly recognized brand mark I have created. I then went on to Tommy Hilfiger where I was exposed to how a massive brand works on a global scale. My role was VP of TH-Brand, running multiple design/marketing teams and liaison between NY and our international partners.

These incredible opportunities lead me to become a skilled designer, brand builder, and collaborator. My design process when working with clients is to apply all of these disciplines and help them discover and develop the brand they envision.

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?
Asbury Park, NJ is my home and it’s an incredible place to live. My wife and I, along with our new puppy Rocky live just a half mile from some fantastic waves and I surf year round…yes even in the winter!

We have an inspiring art culture with world class music and food. If you come to Asbury Park, you can’t miss my wife’s bakery Sweet Dani B or my favorite restaurant Pascale and Sabine. We have the best local music scene this side of Nashville with multiple venues to check out. The Asbury Lanes, The Wonder Bar, renowned photographer Danny Clinch’s Transparent Gallery, and of course The Stone Pony. We also have the annual music/surf festival called Sea Hear Now, attended by 40,000 people each year right on the sand..not to be missed!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My wife, Daniele Boglivi-Fiori, deserves alot of credit for helping me take the step and go out on my own. She owns her own company, Sweet Dani B and is a baker/decorative cookie designer with a background in fashion, TV and graphic design. Dani is truly original, and her work is amazing!

Five years ago I started ROGUE CREATIVE after the company I was with had a corporate restructuring. For the first time in 25 years I had to really assess my career and decide what I wanted to do next, a pretty heavy moment to say the least. Dani encouraged me to build on my past experience and reputation as a creative director/branding specialist and start my own agency.

Website: https://www.roguecreativedesign.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-fiori-5179ab6/

Image Credits
@John Herr @Sweet Dani B

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