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Paul SZABO
Sr Art Director | COTY PRESTIGE
Born of Hungarian and Dominican parents, Paul's family fled the political upheaval in the Dominican Republic, after the collapse of the Trujillo dictatorship to the stability of Puerto Rico. Paul studied art at La Liga de Estudiantes de Arte de San Juan, and at 17 he moved to Massachusetts to study art and design at UMASS Dartmouth (Swain School of Design) from where he graduated. He continued (and continues) his studies in art with the Cooper Union Continuing Education program and most recently at Art New England at Bennington College in Vermont. Paul is currently a Senior Art Director at Coty, overseeing the Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein and Tiffany fragrances, portfolio.
questionnaire
1. What was your very first job?
Part-time, cashier at by parent’s corner store.
2. Please describe, in your own words, what your job is and what work it entails.
I oversee a team of designers that manage the ins and outs of the Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein and Tiffany fragrances, brand portfolio and others. We are an in-house Luxe Studio within Coty, part of the Global Marketing Department.
3. How did you discover that the creative world was right for you? Was there a time in your life that you credit to this discovery? Was there a train of events that brought you where you are today?
Yes, my sister. My family tried basketball and sports at the YMCA, but when that didn’t work out, my sister enrolled me in Saturday Art Classes in Old San Juan in Puerto Rico. I think I was 7 or 8 years old.
4. In your constantly growing and expanding industry, how do you find inspiration to keep your work fresh, innovative and relevant?
I draw and collage constantly and attend yearly workshops in fine art and design.
5. If you had to pick one piece of work or project that you are most proud of, more for the creative work and innovation rather than its recognition or industry "success" what would it be?
Daisy Marc Jacobs
6. Which creative disciplines do you commission most, and are most interested in seeing more of and why? Which of these disciplines are you most interested in seeing at CONNECTIONS? (ie photo, film, production, social, experiential, vr, cgi, animation etc)
While we mostly manage the packaging aspects of the brands. While we do hire product photographers and cgi, I’m curious about experimental and social.
