Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Patio.
Hi Jason, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember, but for most of my childhood I thought the only “real” career paths were to be a doctor, lawyer, or an athlete. That changed when my cousin — by marriage — showed me the design work he did on a computer and casually mentioned it was his job. That one moment opened a door I didn’t know existed, and from then on I knew I wanted to become a designer.
I started officially learning the craft through internships with him at Alphanumeric and Keep-A-Breast, along with a handful of other roles around San Diego. Those experiences gave me a strong foundation, but I really found my stride within Choreo Cookies, a local San Diego hip-hop dance team I was part of. I naturally stepped into handling the team’s branding, apparel, website, and social media. That was the first time I saw how design could shape culture and community in a meaningful way.
That momentum eventually led me into agency life — first at Cuker, where I grew under a great Art Director, and then at BVAccel as a UX/UI designer. With each step, I carried those lessons back into my creative communities, which helped me build confidence and broaden my skill set. All of that growth eventually paved the path to my role at The Athletic, now part of The New York Times.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
For the most part, yes — I’ve been fortunate. I grew up around family members who worked in creative fields, so I had guidance early on and people who knew how to steer me in the right direction. But that doesn’t mean the path was totally smooth.
I had to grow a lot in the softer skills: learning how to communicate effectively, getting comfortable with critiques, and adjusting to the rhythm of a 9–5. But the toughest part was the mental side of the work. Creative blocks, projects that didn’t reach their full potential, moments of burnout — those can really make you second-guess whether you chose the right path.
What I’ve learned is that those moments are part of the process. Taking a break, being honest about your capacity, or even finding inspiration in unexpected places can help you reset and get back into the work with clearer perspective.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m currently a marketing designer at The New York Times, working on The Athletic. My work focuses on building CRM assets — emails, paid social creative, and display ads. I specialize in Figma, I’m a full-on wizard in Photoshop, and I’ve been growing my animation skills through Jitter. People know me for my speed and reliability — I can turn around high-quality work quickly, and that’s become one of the things I take the most pride in on my team.
But the project I’m personally most proud of is actually something I did outside of work. I entered a competition to design a hypothetical NBA expansion team in Las Vegas. I created everything — the team name, the logo system, the court design, and the full jersey set (Association, Icon, Statement). It was one of those projects where I was fully in my element. Even though I didn’t win, the response was incredible. Hundreds of people left thoughtful feedback, and one kid even emailed me saying he used my branding to build his team in NBA 2K. He told me he hoped the NBA might take inspiration from my design someday because he wanted to see it come to life.
That message meant more to me than any ranking in the contest. Knowing that something I created could inspire someone else — especially a younger creative — reminded me why I love doing this work. If anything sets me apart, it’s that blend of craft, speed, and genuine joy. I love what I do, and I try to pour that into every project, whether it’s for a major campaign or a passion project that keeps the kid in me excited.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories was winning my first real trophy — not the participation kind, but an actual championship one. I was in 6th grade and had been playing rec basketball for a couple of years. I wasn’t the star player by any means, but I played solid defense, could hit a three every now and then, and averaged maybe four points a game.
Somehow our team made it all the way to the championship, which was played on the “special” court they only used for big events. The gym felt huge, the crowd was packed, and my parents were there watching. I ended up scoring my usual four points, but those four helped us lock in a nine-point win. That whole season was unforgettable — great teammates, a great run, and a moment that made little-me feel like a champ.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jasonpatio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonpatio/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonpatio/
Image Credits
Nathan Concepcion
