The Essential List: Costa Boudouvas
Costa is a digital creative who uses ad blockers. Why? Because he doesn’t want to see invasive, obnoxious, ineffective ads. Ever. He’s much more into using technology to create meaningful connections with people and earning their attention. Over the last 12 years, Costa has helped clients build brands, launch products, and outmaneuver market obstacles through cutting-edge experiences that engage with humans. He has helped brands like JetBlue, Burger King, Google, and Harley-Davidson earn attention with everything from voice-bots to virtual reality. While the tech is complicated, the intent is simple — whether we’re in the real world, the metaverse, or your own social network, the right message delivered the right way always resonates. When he’s not in the Matrix, Costa enjoys a potent combination of brewing beer, making hot sauce, and trying to keep up with his kids.
Lifestyle
o Place of birth: Washington, DC
o Hometown: Boston, MA
o Staycation: Can’t stand ‘em.
o Vacation: Typically try for no-repeats, but the one exception is taking trips to explore the tiny coastal village in Greece where my parents grew up.
o Pet: Dogs, the bigger the better.
o Place of work: Partners & Napier
o Place of workout: The streets of beantown
o Side project: Fermenting beer, cider and hot sauce from scratch.
o Mode of transport: jetpack.
o Bonus travel essential: Google Maps & Translate. I love to get lost when I visit a new place, and these two apps make sure I eventually find my way back home.
Culture
o Artist: The Ames Bros
o Musician: Favourite right now: Run the Jewels. Favourite All-time: Pearl Jam.
o Commercials / music video director: Spike Jonze
o Film director: Quentin Tarantino
o Photographer: Lee Jeffries
o Film: Pulp Fiction
o Series: The Wire
o Commercial: TNT press to add drama or The VW fun theory campaign. Brilliant creative that invites participation.
o Music video: Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE
o Video game: CoD / Warzone
o Board game: Codenames
o Book: Devil in the White City
o Graphic novel: Watchmen
o Podcast: 99% invisible
o Newspaper (off or online): NYTimes
o Magazine: Rolling Stone
o Bonus culture essential: An insatiable curiosity.
Food and Drink
o Breakfast: Deli Style bacon/egg/cheese with ketchup and hot sauce
o Restaurant: Yvonne’s in Boston
o Cheap bite: Chinatown Dumplings
o Working lunch: anything that comes with the option of a bowl or a wrap
o Favourite dish: Mom’s lamb & orzo youvetsi is the ultimate comfort food.
o Signature dish: Mojo flank Steak Fajitas
o Snack: chips and salsa
o Guilty pleasure: ice cream.
o Bar: Rooftop bar at the James in SoHo
o Booze: Whisky on the rocks
o Not booze: Pellegrino
o Bonus food: Five guys burgers & Cajun fries
o Bonus beverage: Anything from Treehouse
Kit
o Phone: iPhone 13 Pro
o Computer: MacBook Pro
o TV: A nice OLED TV was my Covid-splurge, and I haven’t regretted it for a second.
o Headphones: AirPods
o Camera: iPhone
o Soundsystem: My car--the only place I can listen to music at full volume without complaints.
o Pen / pencil: Skilcraft US Government pens—great product with a great purpose.
o Where you document an idea: Apple Notes when I’m at the computer, Field Notes when I’m not.
o Casual clothing: Joe’s Jeans.
o Smart clothing: Lululemon ABC pants
o Footwear: Vans slip-ons for life.
o Watch: Apple watch daily, and a nice old watch my dad gave me when I need to feel like a boss.
o Collection: Vinyl Records
o App: 1password
o Website: hackaday.com
o Favourite social media feed: @mylothecat on Instagram
o Work program: Google docs/slides
o Digital work tool: Photoshop/Illustrator
o Analogue work tool: Pen and dot-graph paper
o Morning grooming / makeup essential: I don’t do much of anything in the morning, so I would have to say brushing my teeth and putting on a hat to hide until I’m actually ready to be seen.
o Bonus kit essential: Relentless determination.
