Award-Winning Art Director Shaping Visual Identity for Major Brands

Egor Kosolapov
Egor Kosolapov

Egor Kosolapov has established himself as one of the industry's most versatile and accomplished creative professionals. As Senior Graphic Designer at The Daily Wire, a major digital media company with over 220 million monthly reach, Kosolapov has been instrumental in shaping the visual identities of high-profile personalities, including Ben Shapiro and Jordan Peterson.

Prior to that, Kosolapov worked with world-renowned names and agencies, such as BBDO and Art.Lebedev Studio, and received over 50 prestigious awards in the art direction field, including Epica and the Effie Global award, and was named one of the Top 5 Creatives by AdPeak.

A Foundation Built on Excellence

Kosolapov's journey began in Russia, where his parents' support guided him through every stage of his creative education. From kindergarten art studios to earning a bachelor's degree in Art Education and Graphic Design, he had already gained hands-on experience at local advertising agencies by graduation. This early foundation would prove crucial as he rapidly expanded his skill set to include 3D design, motion graphics, packaging, and brand identity development.

"I focused on building cross-disciplinary expertise so I could solve more complex business problems and approach creative tasks from unexpected angles," Kosolapov explains. This strategic approach to skill development would become his signature throughout his career.

Rising Through Creative Scene

From regional agencies to some of Russia's most prestigious creative studios, including the renowned Art. Lebedev Studio and BBDO, his talent quickly propelled his career path. As Senior Art Director, Kosolapov has created content for such major brands as Yandex and Beeline, Baltika, Samolet Group, BI Group, and Moscow Metro alongside international companies from the UK and the UAE.

His breakthrough moment came with "The Greatest Reads" campaign for Beeline. Rather than creating a traditional commercial, Kosolapov collaborated with legendary Russian hip-hop artist Noize MC to produce an original song and music video that referenced classic Russian literature. The campaign garnered 8 million YouTube views and became part of Noize MC's live concert repertoire—a rare achievement for branded content.

"This campaign taught me that even a seemingly simple brief can become a cultural moment if approached from the right angle," Kosolapov reflects. The project also marked his first experience with AI technology, well before it became commonplace in creative workflows.

International Recognition

Kosolapov's creative excellence has earned him more than 50 prestigious national and international awards, including Epica, Effie Russia, Effie Europe, ADCR, Silver Mercury, White Square, The Caples, and Red Apple. This recognition culminated in his naming as one of the Top 5 Creatives in Russia in 2020 by AdPeak.

The pinnacle of Egor's achievement came with the prestigious Effie Global award for "The Greatest Reads" campaign—one of advertising's most coveted honors, requiring victories at national, regional, and global levels.

"Effie Global is one of the most prestigious international awards in advertising," Kosolapov explains. "Winning it means your work has stood out not only nationwide but among the best projects and agencies worldwide."

His expertise has been recognized beyond his own work—Kosolapov served as a judge for the creative festival 'Silver Mercury' for four consecutive years in the Branding category, evaluating top Russian and international projects across various industries.

Transforming American Media Landscape

That exact experience and those accolades enabled Egor to secure his Extraordinary Ability visa in the U.S., where he began his career at an advertising agency in Los Angeles, CA. Eventually, he moved forward and found a place where his skill set and background was contributing to meaningful, large-scale projects and initiatives.

At The Daily Wire, one of the leading American media companies with over 200 million visits, Kosolapov found an environment that challenged conventional media aesthetics. He was tasked with elevating the company's visual language beyond traditional conservative media approaches.

"We wanted to develop a design style that would stand out not just in the U.S. media landscape, but globally," Kosolapov explains. His international experience proved invaluable in broadening the team's perspective and introducing globally-informed best practices.

Creating graphics for various Daily Wire products, including Dr. Jordan Peterson's series "The Gospels," "We Who Wrestle With God," "Success," and "Foundations of the West"; Ben Shapiro's new YouTube show "After Dark" and a new book, "Lions and Scavengers: The True Story Of America (And Her Critics)," published by Simon & Schuster imprint, Threshold Editions, one of the largest American publishing houses and part of the "Big Five" English-language publishers in the world; and Matt Walsh's highest-grossing satirical documentary comedy "Am I Racist?" for which Egor developed an animated intro sequence—as well as event graphics and animations for The Daily Wire's live coverage of the 2024 Republican National Convention and Election Night 2024, presented unique challenges, requiring a careful balance between business objectives and the authentic representation of each talent's distinct voice, philosophy, and the concept behind their respective products. Kosolapov's approach was informed by his genuine admiration for their work, allowing him to create visuals that resonated with their audiences while reflecting the depth of their ideas. This work contributed to content that reached millions of viewers, amplifying the impact of these influential voices and their messages.

The Art of Visual Storytelling

Kosolapov's work spans the full spectrum of visual communication, from launching new shows and designing branding systems to supporting talent with graphics across social media, promotions, and publications. Each project requires translating complex ideas into compelling visual narratives that serve The Daily Wire's global audience.

Some of Kosolapov's contributions include transforming seemingly mundane elements like YouTube thumbnails and social media banners into sophisticated visual communication tools. "Thumbnails may seem small, but they play a huge role in shaping perception," he observes. "A strong thumbnail communicates not just what content is about, but who it's coming from."

On top of it, working with political content comes with certain limitations, but Kosolapov's creative philosophy centers on the belief that great design thrives under constraints. "Some of the world's most powerful work was made with limited resources—just a sharp idea, strong intent, and a clear message," he says. This approach has served him well in navigating the complexities of political and cultural content, where every visual element carries significant weight.

Looking Forward

Continuing to evolve in his role at The Daily Wire, Kosolapov is drawn to the prospect of taking on more creative leadership responsibilities. "I'm most excited by the idea of stepping into a more creative leadership or co-creator role—not just designing for content, but being involved in creating it," he says.

His journey from a regional Russian agency to shaping visual narratives for one of America's largest media platforms shows the power of combining technical excellence with cultural intelligence. Through his work, Kosolapov continues to prove that exceptional design transcends borders, speaking to universal human experiences while respecting cultural nuances.

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