AUSTIN BUCK - CoPilot Creative

Beer! Bikes! & BRANDS!

As a New Braunfels native and son of makers, I take great pride in my artistic roots. My parents made pottery for a living and owned a retail store called Buck Pottery in Gruene, Texas, for 35 years. Of course they encouraged me to make things and pursue art, but more importantly they showed me the way to thread lifestyle and art together.

As a kid growing up in Gruene, around fine artists, I’ve always been interested in “making things”. I just can’t stop. After school at Texas State University with a Communication Design degree, I moved to Colorado Springs to work for a design studio. I was ready to get out of Texas and needed a big adventure. From there I found my groove at another studio called CoPilot Creative and eventually purchased the studio in 2010. We moved back to central Texas 8 years ago to be closer to family and kickstart the interior design part of our business. To date, we work with clients to help communicate their brand message and brand experience in their space. We create the feel and the vibe of the marketing and the experience of the space.

Today, I own CoPilot Creative a boutique branding and interior design studio based in New Braunfels Texas. I run the studio with a team of talented designers and as a team, we are continuing the values that were started in 1975. Bold branding, simple effective design communication and personal integrity. We also love Beer… and Bikes!

I have two creative daughters. My 12 year old is interested in theatre and music while my 10 year old wants to illustrate books for a living!

CoPilot Creative is a branding and design studio. We create compelling identities, websites, marketing materials and stories that add value to brands.

We do our best work for clients who are passionate about what they do. Clients willing to take a risk, try something new, and build a long term strategic relationship. We work best when our clients have a solid product and believe in what they are selling.

Our Services: Brand Design, Interior Design, Website design, Digital and Traditional Marketing, Photography and Video.

We have also started our own fine art line over the last few years. We’ve illustrated area maps in a fun and unique way. Each one is then handsilkscreened, signed, and editioned for sale. We’ve had a ton of fun with these and it gives us a break from the day-to-day client work. They are sold online on our website and carried at a few stores in the area. The Local, Cotton Eyed Joe, and Feliz Modern in San Antonio.

I went to Texas State for their Communication Design program. I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in some sort of art. Design seemed like a really practical way to make a living. I still make fine art for myself to scratch that itch.

My first biggest piece of advice when starting a new business is to keep it simple and minimize your overhead.

There are slow times and busy times. You have to be able to weather the slow times and not stress during the crazy busy times. Rarely are things flowing at a natural pace so getting used to income peaks and valleys is important. Minimize your lifestyle.

The second piece of advice, business has to be a true passion, otherwise you cannot withstand the demands.

Recently, I was encouraged to apply to teach Art and Design at Texas State University. I went through the application and interview process and am excited to start this fall semester! This will allow me to share what I have learned over the last 20 years as a designer, but also as an entrepreneur and business owner with 50 students each semester. I’ll be able to engage students in the work we are doing and prep them for their careers in the design world.

I also just started a “Ugly Walls” mural concept. The first installation was this Spring in Landa Park. I walk past this ugly wall on the back side of one of the bathrooms almost every day. I took a photo and mocked up a quick mural idea and contacted the parks director. They gave me permission and in 2-3 hours we turned an “ugly wall” into something interesting. Since then, we have a few other opportunities and other artists wanting to volunteer to help add public art to New Braunfels. The idea is simple. Create a more pleasing public space via art. Time is donated, the designs are simple (2-3 hours to produce) and the end results inspire and create a more pleasant space for our community. If you have a public space, please reach out.

-Austin Buck
CoPilot Creative

186 E. Garden St. New Braunfels, TX 78130
830.264.6920