Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Kidd.
Hi Eric, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Flint, Michigan and grew up in Muskegon. Where I come from, a lot of people never get the chance to leave, let alone chase what they actually love. Dreams often take a back seat to just getting by. That reality shaped me and gave me a drive to make something of the talent I had.
I’ve always been artistic. As a kid I was constantly drawing, and for a long time I wanted to be a car designer. I’d sketch cars for hours, obsessing over lines and shapes. I didn’t know it then, but I was training my eye for composition and design.
Everything changed in college when I picked up a camera for the first time. My professor, Dr. Tim Craig, saw something in my work and encouraged me to keep going. Having someone believe in you like that matters, especially when you come from a place where that kind of encouragement isn’t a given. I took it seriously and never put the camera down.
That path led me to start Hilltop Creative, my own creative agency. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest brands and musicians in the world, including Nike, Adidas and Red Bull. I approach every project with one goal: make people feel something. I come at the work from a cultural standpoint, so it connects with the people and the moment it’s made for.
When the Tampa Bay Sun FC was getting off the ground, I had the chance to help build the club’s creative from the start and shape how it showed up for the city. That work earned two Telly Awards, which meant a lot to me and to everyone involved.
This spring I joined The Rise Collective in Tampa Bay as Creative Director, leading brand and creative across their hospitality and real estate companies. Going from athletes to hospitality might seem like a leap, but it’s the same work at its core: telling stories that connect people to something bigger than the product.
When I think about that kid in Muskegon drawing cars, I’m proud that I got to follow the dream, even if it looks a little different than I imagined. None of it happened by accident. I’ve been blessed by God every step of the way, with the right people, the right doors opening and the strength to keep going when it wasn’t easy. I don’t take any of it for granted.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all. When I was 3 years old, my mom, my brother and I were homeless. I was too young to understand everything at the time, but that season shaped our family. My mom was the hardest working person I’ve ever known. Watching her fight to raise 3 kids on her own and provide for us shaped my work ethic more than anything else in my life.
I was also the first person in my family to go to college. I didn’t have a blueprint. There was nobody ahead of me who had walked this path or knew how to turn a creative passion into a career. I had to figure it out on my own, learning by doing and making plenty of mistakes along the way.
Starting my own agency came with its own challenges. When you’re running the business, you’re not just the creative. You’re handling clients, finances, deadlines and everything in between. There were lean seasons where work was slow and I had to trust that the next opportunity was coming.
There’s also the pressure that comes with working at a high level. When you’re creating for brands of that size, the expectations are real and there’s no room to coast. I had to keep pushing myself to grow, stay sharp and earn my place in every room I walked into.
Through all of it, my faith kept me grounded. God has given me every opportunity I’ve had, and looking back, I can see how He used even the hardest seasons to prepare me for where I am now.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a creative director, photographer and filmmaker. Today I lead brand and creative at The Rise Collective, where I oversee everything from brand strategy and web design to content production. Through Hilltop Creative, I’ve worked with some of the biggest brands and musicians in the world, building campaigns and visual stories that connect with people.
My specialty is visual storytelling. Whether it’s a brand campaign, a short film or a full identity, I’m focused on making people feel something. I approach every project from a cultural standpoint, paying attention to what’s happening in music, sports and the community so the work feels real and relevant instead of just polished.
What I’m most proud of is the journey itself. Going from a kid in Muskegon who didn’t have a blueprint to working with brands like Nike, Adidas and Red Bull and earning two Telly Awards is something I never take for granted. I hope my story shows young people from places like where I grew up that their dreams are possible.
What sets me apart is that I can see a project from every angle. I can direct the vision, get behind the camera, design the brand and build the website. That range lets me keep the story consistent from the first idea to the final product. Combine that with the work ethic my mom instilled in me, and I show up ready to outwork anyone in the room.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
A podcast that really opened my eyes to different parts of the industry is Black With No Cream with Ben Haggerty. It gave me perspective on sides of the creative world I hadn’t been exposed to and helped me think bigger about what’s possible.
When it comes to books, I love autobiographies. I’m drawn to how people share their experiences, and a great autobiography is really an art of storytelling. Some of my favorites are from Will Smith, Viola Davis, 50 Cent and Mariah Carey. Each of them came from real struggle and found a way to turn it into something powerful, which is a story I connect with.
Outside of work, my faith keeps me grounded. It reminds me where my opportunities come from and keeps me focused on the bigger picture.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Hilltopstudio.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericvisionss?dlrf=MWplbTMzanF5djY3dA==
