Edwin Cossitt

What attracted Ed Cossitt to the retail display industry? “Possibly because it goes beyond the normal design realm,” Cossitt says. “It presents more of an opportunity to create fantasy and theatrics — things that don't generally have a place in the standard world of design.”

Now, some 30 years later, this design world still hasn't lost its allure. And Cossitt works to make the retail display community stronger and more cohesive, as the executive director of the New York-based National Association of Display Industries (NADI).

It's been a long and interesting journey for the Toronto boy, who originally set his sights on the Olympics. “I was a fairly good figure skater,” he says modestly. But a broken ankle on the day of the championships marked the end of competition and the beginning of his educational pursuit Cossitt — received his Masters in architecture. “My dream turned into school, which I have never regretted.”

So, no regrets and no limits. “One can have many talents,” he says. “You don't have to spend your life doing just one thing; that's totally boring!”

There have been many. Personal-wise, it was my parents who instilled within me good morals and strong principles to live by.

Well, patience has never been my best quality. I have difficulty with people who are indecisive and who constantly complain about their jobs. There's an old saying about the heat in the kitchen… No one should work at something they don't enjoy.

The Canadian architecture firm I worked for after graduation had a joint project with a New York firm and they needed a liaison. It seemed like an opportunity for a year of fun and games. But I decided I liked New York and could live here permanently, and my company helped me obtain permanent residency. It doesn't seem like it's been 27 years, but it has.

They take on more than they can handle. It's something that happens with creative individuals — they truly want to give their best but sometimes suffer under impossible time constraints.

They are in most cases optimistic, positive and take great pride in their profession.

Anyone who makes great predictions about style and taste, or the lack of it.

I was probably some medieval monk, who sat in a tower creating illuminated manuscripts — and going blind from such close work.

Well, I'm not Scrooge and I'm not that guy who used to play the ukulele, either. I love finding great gifts for my friends, eating wonderful food and celebrating with the important people in my life.