Gus Nicklos

As Lead Designer at Drake Cooper, Gus Nicklos brings a wide range of experience and a broad skill set earned from a life in design—joining a culture built on trust, shared ownership, and thoughtful creative work. 

Before Boise called, he spent two decades in Portland—cutting his teeth at various agencies, running his own studio, multiple stints in Footwear Innovation and Brand Environments at Nike, and teaching design and typography at the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA). There’s a good chance you’ve held his work in hand: if you own a pair of Nikes or adidas, the box they came in likely featured one of the many proprietary brand font families he designed—part of a broader body of type work for brands including Starbucks and Quiksilver. He’s created over 100 identity marks, including a redesign of the iconic Danner Boots logo and a flexible design system that increased production efficiency without sacrificing craft.

Outside the office, Gus is a former rock-band frontman who still chases rhythm—while running or in whatever creative excursion unfolds. He collects out-of-print design books (sometimes organized by height or spine color), creatively collaborates with his wife Erin, and builds LEGO metropolises with their three kids.

Q&A

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Existing to serve the moment, improvising like a jazz musician with the people around me, unburdened by the distractions and responsibilities of daily life, free to create or become anything, together.

Living person you most admire?

Joshua Berger / Designer and Cofounder of Plazm Media, Mentor, Lifelong Collaborator and friend.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Instant jazz-guitar fluency.

What is your most treasured possession?

Fig trees from my Paupou’s village in Greece.

Who is the greatest love of your life?

My wife, best friend and collaborator Erin Nicklos and three unique and curious kids.

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