Conversations with Jeffrey Isom

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeffrey Isom.

Hi Jeffrey, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After graduating from The University of Kansas with a concentration in Visual Communication – Graphic Design and a minor in Art History, I relocated to Barcelona, Spain where I honed my artistic style and immersed myself in European culture.

Upon my return home, I took some time away from design and started my first job at a commercial interior firm in the River Market. Even though this job wasn’t design-focused, I gained a lot of experience reading and understanding architectural plans and networking within the KC design industry. After a year or so I realized that designing was my true passion and I was fortunate to get a project substantial enough to allow me to pursue my freelance design career full-time. At this same time, I created the moniker, ‘Pre Sense Form’, which is what I began calling my studio work as well as the identifier I’d use when creating fine art. The name, to me, was a simple way of defining the essence of creative problem-solving. Having been so inspired during my time in Europe, I continued to create art and further develop my artistic approach, which I feel complimented and enhanced my design work.

Over the next ten years, my career path led me to art directing an indie record label, helping friends and startups visualize their identities, working on projects coast to coast, and building a wide array of clientele that only seemed to grow. During that same time, my siblings were all on parallel paths, running their own design-related businesses.

As kids, we had always talked about how much fun it would be to all work together one day and were further motivated by growing up with two talented parents that made a living in the art and design world. So, after a year of brainstorming and pondering the idea, we decided to take the first step toward fulfilling a lifelong dream. In 2014, we formed ISOM Collective, a multidisciplinary design group based in New York and Kansas City. Working with family has had its ups and downs, but at the end of the day, I couldn’t imagine it any other way. It has been one of the most rewarding, insightful, challenging, and incredible learning experiences of my life… and continues to be even after almost 9 years.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road, but all the hard work has paid off in the end. For years, I had to scrape by and take any design project I could get just to make ends meet. There were times I doubted that I could make a substantial living as a freelance designer, not only to support myself but to one day support a family.

I never took a client for granted and always did my best no matter how big or small the project. After joining forces with my siblings and continuing to put in the hard work, I was able to turn those doubts into a realization that I could make it happen.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We are a multidisciplinary design group based in New York and Kansas City. We seek out diversity in projects and clientele. Working across many disciplines and industries, we strive to create an engaging and meaningful experience through visual and tactile methods.

We look for design challenges that demand solutions, which put our unique collaborative process to full use. From concept through production, we strive to develop and create solutions that will help bring new ideas to life. With a focus on aesthetic sensibilities and a great dedication and passion for our craft, we aim to provide relevant, yet timeless, design solutions with an uncompromising level of authenticity, quality, and attention to detail.

Our areas of focus include;

/ interior architectural design
/ space planning & function
/ identity and environmental design
/ creative direction and consulting
/ brand development & strategy
/ new construction & renovations
/ bespoke design & fabrication

We are most proud of our unwavering commitment to providing and implementing high-quality, detail-focused design solutions while nurturing and developing meaningful relationships with an incredible array of clientele.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The design industry is constantly evolving, but at its core is something that has been a constant since the beginning… truly great design is timeless. Therefore, we rarely look at trends, unless the project specifically calls for it, rather focusing on design solutions and sensibilities that, we hope, stand the test of time.

Contact Info:

• Website: isomcollective.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isomcollective/