Tuesday, July 5, 2011
HAPPY NAIDOC WEEK!
I designed and developed these Karulbo Polo shirts for Gold Coast Indigenous Health Services. Using Dye Sublimation and full cut and sew i reckon they come up really well!
LOZEN'S HALF MARATHON CHARITY SUPPORTER TEES AND CAPS
A little project designed and executed for my sister in-law Lozen. The shirts and caps on the day were worn by supporters on the day, helping Lozen over the line....placed 7301 out of 8000! Well done Lozen.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
A feature article on Artisan website, go to link for full article
http://www.getartisan.com.au/a_lists/view/1071
What sparked your passion for design?
Growing up as an artist, I came to a cross road at around 18 where I asked the question – How can I use my hands and a computer, be artistic, work on inventive solutions to diverse problems and challenge myself while getting paid, and by process of elimination I had a eureka moment where I realised product design was for me.
How creative were you as a youngster?
I think I was stuck in the body of a renaissance man as a kid; I would use my mum’s old pastels, acrylics and watercolour and create landscapes you would expect an old solemn man in his attic to create! That genre was normal to me, and I loved it. And I had posters of Van Gogh’s works all over my room at 10
Do you come from a creative family?
My mother is a brilliant creator. My fondest memory as a child was rifling through mums old art college folder of sketches and projects from when she was 20. Dad is amazingly innovative with his hands, he’s a tinkerer, a workshop kind of guy, and I guess I have grown to attempt to emulate both these worlds.
Were they supportive of your desire to be a designer?
While the other kids were at soccer on Saturday, I was at art school. When I got to 14 and wanted to play Rugby League for a club Mum was petrified I would break my little ‘artist’ fingers. She was so encouraging about my talent and would always talk to me about the so many different fields of creative work I could go into when I grew up, because as a young kid it seemed the only thing to do with being a talented artist was be a Van Gogh and chop off my ear, or be an architect. It took some time as a kid to get my head around the fact that everything man-made we see and hold was designed by somebody at some point…There’d be plenty of room for me too!
What sort of education and training have you had?
Art classes as a child, then a full year art scholarship to Queensland Art Gallery at 13. Tried this thing called ‘Design’ at Tafe at 18, saw the light and never looked back. Went onto 4 years at Griffith University, Gold Coast in the Bachelor of Product Design.
Who did you want to work for when you first entered the industry?
Billabong. Turned out I ended up Design Manager for Billabong 5 years later.
Tell us about your first project and what do you feel about it now?
My first project while still at uni was at a surf apparel and accessory company. Using COREL (which I had never heard of because I was taught Ai). I had to CAD draw up 30 accessory pieces i.e. Bags, wallets, caps and belts for my boss because HE didn't know Corel, he only knew Ai, the irony! Sooo many nodes and powerclips aarrgghh! I had no idea how to be efficient with the program. Those cads if ever resurrected would be a minefield! But it taught me real quick how to use that program and got me the job. Soon after my boss left and I stepped up, by the time I left 4 years later lets just say the COREL CADS were remarkably more efficient.
What is your preferred software to work with and what has been the greatest advancement in technology over the past 5 years?
Ai. And 3dsMax, I really want to sway my time further into 3dsMax. The greatest advancement over the past 5 years has been social media and the ability now for so many people to create their own identities online with no prior web experience. And of course LiveTrace in Ai starting in Adobe CS2. What a treat!
Is digital technology going to eliminate the need for print?
No, never. If anything it will make print a premium, thoughtful and mature high-class medium to deliver content. And eventually print will stand for vintage and nostalgia. It will be the type of solution for a client who really wants to be remembered for understanding the true scope and history of quality design.
Whose work do you really admire and why?
Charles and Ray Eames for being the first to commercialise moulded plastics into beautiful furniture pieces. The Thonet Brothers for being the first to flat pack mass-produced furniture. Alex Trochut for his impeccable mix of artistic illustration into digital form and gradient work.
Who has been the greatest person that you’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and what have they taught you?
My first boss taught me all I needed to know about softgoods and accessories; he implanted passion and enthusiasm for soft goods into me through research methodologies and believed in my ability so much as to let me roll and experiment with various ideas. Then he vouched for me and still continues to today. Now we are both senior we promise to one day work on a project together.
How would you describe your work?
Diverse. I engage in Product, Graphic and Illustration with equal engaged enthusiasm and can draw upon many different creative experiences to execute a project. My work is usually quite fluid and often if the project permits I like to deliberately leave marks of creation as it creates a sense of authenticity.
What are your plans for the future?
Keep creating, keep challenging my intelligence by learning new things. Be involved in projects that make a difference, and do all this with as little impact on the environment as possible.
What sort of company would you like to work with next?
A company with a holistic measured and considered approach to design that works on projects that make the world a better place.
What is your opinion of Australian design?
Because of our lack of cultural heritage and sense of place I think Australians struggle to sometimes create unique meaningful design in the way that Europeans can. On the other hand this can be a blessing, as we tend to experiment with any and all genres from all corners of the globe. You can’t pinpoint what is quintessentially Australian design I think.
What is the best/worst thing about being a designer in Australia?
The point I made above probably sum it up. Just imagine, if you were walking out into some of the major city hubs everyday in Europe, being inspired by every tier of both 20th and 21st century design, everyday. The best thing is feeling part of a young cultural movement that in other parts of the world happened hundreds of years ago.
In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge the Australian design industry has to face in the near future?
Cohesion in numbers to establish a national force that communicate, collaborate and unify; it’s easy to feel isolated in some places of Australia as a designer. Also, free pitching – The ability for clients to find designers anywhere in the world through social media and global freelancing pitch sites is all too easy. And there are many parts of the world where designers will quite happily free pitch for a job, and also severely undercut the price of executing good design. Therefore the integrity of the industry is tarnished.
What is your creative outlet outside of design?
Surfing, Artwork.
What is the best designed bar in Brisbane?
The one with free wi-fi!
What are your top 5 websites at the moment?
http://butdoesitfloat.com
www.idsketching.com/
www.empireave.com/
www.theinertia.com/
www.ted.com/
What CD are you currently listening to and is it any good?
Modular People Modcast #61 ‘Bag Raiders” mixtape – A Pina Colada PodCasta – A Tropical Holiday Sound Selection
If I was a font, I’d be...?
Helvetica Neue Italic, 10pt
What sparked your passion for design?
Growing up as an artist, I came to a cross road at around 18 where I asked the question – How can I use my hands and a computer, be artistic, work on inventive solutions to diverse problems and challenge myself while getting paid, and by process of elimination I had a eureka moment where I realised product design was for me.
How creative were you as a youngster?
I think I was stuck in the body of a renaissance man as a kid; I would use my mum’s old pastels, acrylics and watercolour and create landscapes you would expect an old solemn man in his attic to create! That genre was normal to me, and I loved it. And I had posters of Van Gogh’s works all over my room at 10
Do you come from a creative family?
My mother is a brilliant creator. My fondest memory as a child was rifling through mums old art college folder of sketches and projects from when she was 20. Dad is amazingly innovative with his hands, he’s a tinkerer, a workshop kind of guy, and I guess I have grown to attempt to emulate both these worlds.
Were they supportive of your desire to be a designer?
While the other kids were at soccer on Saturday, I was at art school. When I got to 14 and wanted to play Rugby League for a club Mum was petrified I would break my little ‘artist’ fingers. She was so encouraging about my talent and would always talk to me about the so many different fields of creative work I could go into when I grew up, because as a young kid it seemed the only thing to do with being a talented artist was be a Van Gogh and chop off my ear, or be an architect. It took some time as a kid to get my head around the fact that everything man-made we see and hold was designed by somebody at some point…There’d be plenty of room for me too!
What sort of education and training have you had?
Art classes as a child, then a full year art scholarship to Queensland Art Gallery at 13. Tried this thing called ‘Design’ at Tafe at 18, saw the light and never looked back. Went onto 4 years at Griffith University, Gold Coast in the Bachelor of Product Design.
Who did you want to work for when you first entered the industry?
Billabong. Turned out I ended up Design Manager for Billabong 5 years later.
Tell us about your first project and what do you feel about it now?
My first project while still at uni was at a surf apparel and accessory company. Using COREL (which I had never heard of because I was taught Ai). I had to CAD draw up 30 accessory pieces i.e. Bags, wallets, caps and belts for my boss because HE didn't know Corel, he only knew Ai, the irony! Sooo many nodes and powerclips aarrgghh! I had no idea how to be efficient with the program. Those cads if ever resurrected would be a minefield! But it taught me real quick how to use that program and got me the job. Soon after my boss left and I stepped up, by the time I left 4 years later lets just say the COREL CADS were remarkably more efficient.
What is your preferred software to work with and what has been the greatest advancement in technology over the past 5 years?
Ai. And 3dsMax, I really want to sway my time further into 3dsMax. The greatest advancement over the past 5 years has been social media and the ability now for so many people to create their own identities online with no prior web experience. And of course LiveTrace in Ai starting in Adobe CS2. What a treat!
Is digital technology going to eliminate the need for print?
No, never. If anything it will make print a premium, thoughtful and mature high-class medium to deliver content. And eventually print will stand for vintage and nostalgia. It will be the type of solution for a client who really wants to be remembered for understanding the true scope and history of quality design.
Whose work do you really admire and why?
Charles and Ray Eames for being the first to commercialise moulded plastics into beautiful furniture pieces. The Thonet Brothers for being the first to flat pack mass-produced furniture. Alex Trochut for his impeccable mix of artistic illustration into digital form and gradient work.
Who has been the greatest person that you’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and what have they taught you?
My first boss taught me all I needed to know about softgoods and accessories; he implanted passion and enthusiasm for soft goods into me through research methodologies and believed in my ability so much as to let me roll and experiment with various ideas. Then he vouched for me and still continues to today. Now we are both senior we promise to one day work on a project together.
How would you describe your work?
Diverse. I engage in Product, Graphic and Illustration with equal engaged enthusiasm and can draw upon many different creative experiences to execute a project. My work is usually quite fluid and often if the project permits I like to deliberately leave marks of creation as it creates a sense of authenticity.
What are your plans for the future?
Keep creating, keep challenging my intelligence by learning new things. Be involved in projects that make a difference, and do all this with as little impact on the environment as possible.
What sort of company would you like to work with next?
A company with a holistic measured and considered approach to design that works on projects that make the world a better place.
What is your opinion of Australian design?
Because of our lack of cultural heritage and sense of place I think Australians struggle to sometimes create unique meaningful design in the way that Europeans can. On the other hand this can be a blessing, as we tend to experiment with any and all genres from all corners of the globe. You can’t pinpoint what is quintessentially Australian design I think.
What is the best/worst thing about being a designer in Australia?
The point I made above probably sum it up. Just imagine, if you were walking out into some of the major city hubs everyday in Europe, being inspired by every tier of both 20th and 21st century design, everyday. The best thing is feeling part of a young cultural movement that in other parts of the world happened hundreds of years ago.
In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge the Australian design industry has to face in the near future?
Cohesion in numbers to establish a national force that communicate, collaborate and unify; it’s easy to feel isolated in some places of Australia as a designer. Also, free pitching – The ability for clients to find designers anywhere in the world through social media and global freelancing pitch sites is all too easy. And there are many parts of the world where designers will quite happily free pitch for a job, and also severely undercut the price of executing good design. Therefore the integrity of the industry is tarnished.
What is your creative outlet outside of design?
Surfing, Artwork.
What is the best designed bar in Brisbane?
The one with free wi-fi!
What are your top 5 websites at the moment?
http://butdoesitfloat.com
www.idsketching.com/
www.empireave.com/
www.theinertia.com/
www.ted.com/
What CD are you currently listening to and is it any good?
Modular People Modcast #61 ‘Bag Raiders” mixtape – A Pina Colada PodCasta – A Tropical Holiday Sound Selection
If I was a font, I’d be...?
Helvetica Neue Italic, 10pt
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
AHHH THUMBNAILS
Selected five thumbnails for a website featuring my work, always nice to scrutinise your work and find what fits 320W x 200H
Friday, May 27, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
INDO DREAMS 2011
Two of my good mates are living in Indo right now, surfing all day and editing the film of it at night, on ya lads Jase and Youngy !
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Portal Circle
Little bit of fun, take an lomo pic, print it big, put it on canvas and pour resin all over it. Hang it.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Monday, December 27, 2010
I PAD
Got my hands on one. The beauty is learning how it can be used over time, one of those things you know pandoras box is opened but it's gonna take some serious pad time to figure out just what's inside and how its gonna make life rad !
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
CURRUMBIN SCULPTURE FESTIVAL 2010
Always a pleasure to get down to the Alley and take a look at this each year
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
THE EMPTY HEADS - COUPLE OF MY NEW BOARDS
STARTING FRESH
OK, So its quite obvious something has happened to me in the last 10 months that has stalled my efforts to update my blog. A job. A good one too, been working for Billabong as Design Director for Mens Accessories since i got back from Japan. I've sunk my teeth in good and proper, done the hard yards learning the history, the company, the potential and now im equipped - full of knowledge and ready to press into Summer 11 season confident im making inspiring functional product with a great iconic brand that has a story to tell.
Now, its time to reconnect with logging this visual, audible and oral diary. Its not that i haven't been connected, its just that i haven't logged what i have seen to my blog. Slack, or excusing myself as being too busy for 10 months to go the extra step when finding goods and clicking 'add post'. Whichever, its gotta start again, and it starts with this one...post.
Now, its time to reconnect with logging this visual, audible and oral diary. Its not that i haven't been connected, its just that i haven't logged what i have seen to my blog. Slack, or excusing myself as being too busy for 10 months to go the extra step when finding goods and clicking 'add post'. Whichever, its gotta start again, and it starts with this one...post.
Monday, January 4, 2010
"BLOG ENTRIES FROM JAPAN THAT ONLY MADE IT TO ONE LINERS IN MY NOTES" ENTRY.
The kids learning australian pronounciation of words
Canadian Club for $14
the waves and the bar being built
the experience in Shimoda-the hotel
the solitude, the news i choose to read and watch
Kamakura in the rain
Our host family, never letting us pay, always so nice
The politeness of the restaurant people…
Sleeping on the train
The mosquitos until we figured it was the window not open properly
Taking sketching to work
Have to cover tattoo in gym because of yakuza
Paying futsal with the poms on the roof of Odakyu
Masa’s bar
Smoken weed
Lost in translation through the train and subway systems
The dirtiness of Shanghai
The factory surrounded by concrete, knocked and constructed
The heat
I know watermelon!!
The Diamond Club and Spa in Rendevouz hotel Shanghai
The visa ordeals
The quarantine people checking for swine flue on the plane at Shanghai airport
HK BEERFEST winning 3 different beer skulling comps, got the prizes lost, had a hell time
How crazy summer beaches and beach bars are in Japan, they party like no other, inspiring! Drinking games the lot
Strolling into a bar thinking the girl was speaking to me because she was “pilot”, only to find out the 20 minute chat was going to cost me 15000yen, so I ran, shouted, pushed and screamed.
Kingyosukoi festival and our special 13 fishies:)
Acco, powelly’s mate, turns out to be a girl!, not a boy like I thought.
3 days of smokin, kinda, waves in Shonan, definitely underestimated the banks at Kugenuma Kaigen.
Meeting with STOKE distributor went ok, they weren’t that interested in bikinis though.
Blue Horizon surf shop want to do an event/ exhibition with me for my surfboard art
The Japanese don't understand sarcasm; “I’d love a typhoon to come, I would go out and wait for it and ride it in” Japanese person reply; “Really!! No, you shouldn't do that you will die” and they are being sincere.
Me and Powelly going bonkerz when he came over, almost got arrested again, for touching a electorate candidate sign at the Bridge Bar
Tommy and his fancy bike, until I ride it into 7eleven
Steve the Aussie, Steve the Pom, Tommy the Irish/ Canadian/ Japanese!
Our road trip to Shimoda, new sites, great mountain ride by default because we got lost. Great beach road on return...no waves!
The chanting and unisan stretching at the public pool at Tsujido like a communist zombie regime
Summer School with the kids; Pools, Beaches, 50m treehouses, indoor play arenas resembling wood lodges on steroids for dwarfs.
Freedom Sunset Party, our lighthouse and summer vibes
Beck getting all the private lessons because men want women to teach them, women want women to teach them, and I look scary!
Yusukes Dads design firm
Yokohama Y150 celebrations, and the Nissan display, pretty awe inspiring for the future, good to be a witness to this evolution
Beck’s Mum here and she’s really enjoying it.
Kyoto shrine overload, coinciding with my home town getting waves arrghh
Osaka Aquarium, bloody amazing, out of this world, the Pacific Ocean tank with Whale Sharks, a tiger Shark, hammerheads, stingrays, mantas, tuna, one of the best visual sites my eyes have seen
Earthquakes in Japan! I experienced two, proper shake ups! And my phone has a warning signal embedded in it that sounds like a guinea pig getting run over by truck! Reeek reeek reeek !!!
Surfing Chiba, got some good waves at Chitose. Never forget our little Mumma’s Ruyoken we stayed in at Kamogawa.
Hokkaido clam and oysters bigger than a dishplate at Yusuke’s dad’s place.
The Autumn festival was pumping out front of our house
Old people in Japan arrrghhh!! They are everywhere, the ageing population problem is slap in the face evident.
The Wagyu, ate so much it made me malnourish spew
Selling, hawking, giving away our stuff we accumulaterd over 7 months in Japan, anyone for a front load toaster ?
A painting on a surfboard for our favourite little Japanese family, of Kugenuma
SAKE,mmmm:)Bye Japan
HOME.
Canadian Club for $14
the waves and the bar being built
the experience in Shimoda-the hotel
the solitude, the news i choose to read and watch
Kamakura in the rain
Our host family, never letting us pay, always so nice
The politeness of the restaurant people…
Sleeping on the train
The mosquitos until we figured it was the window not open properly
Taking sketching to work
Have to cover tattoo in gym because of yakuza
Paying futsal with the poms on the roof of Odakyu
Masa’s bar
Smoken weed
Lost in translation through the train and subway systems
The dirtiness of Shanghai
The factory surrounded by concrete, knocked and constructed
The heat
I know watermelon!!
The Diamond Club and Spa in Rendevouz hotel Shanghai
The visa ordeals
The quarantine people checking for swine flue on the plane at Shanghai airport
HK BEERFEST winning 3 different beer skulling comps, got the prizes lost, had a hell time
How crazy summer beaches and beach bars are in Japan, they party like no other, inspiring! Drinking games the lot
Strolling into a bar thinking the girl was speaking to me because she was “pilot”, only to find out the 20 minute chat was going to cost me 15000yen, so I ran, shouted, pushed and screamed.
Kingyosukoi festival and our special 13 fishies:)
Acco, powelly’s mate, turns out to be a girl!, not a boy like I thought.
3 days of smokin, kinda, waves in Shonan, definitely underestimated the banks at Kugenuma Kaigen.
Meeting with STOKE distributor went ok, they weren’t that interested in bikinis though.
Blue Horizon surf shop want to do an event/ exhibition with me for my surfboard art
The Japanese don't understand sarcasm; “I’d love a typhoon to come, I would go out and wait for it and ride it in” Japanese person reply; “Really!! No, you shouldn't do that you will die” and they are being sincere.
Me and Powelly going bonkerz when he came over, almost got arrested again, for touching a electorate candidate sign at the Bridge Bar
Tommy and his fancy bike, until I ride it into 7eleven
Steve the Aussie, Steve the Pom, Tommy the Irish/ Canadian/ Japanese!
Our road trip to Shimoda, new sites, great mountain ride by default because we got lost. Great beach road on return...no waves!
The chanting and unisan stretching at the public pool at Tsujido like a communist zombie regime
Summer School with the kids; Pools, Beaches, 50m treehouses, indoor play arenas resembling wood lodges on steroids for dwarfs.
Freedom Sunset Party, our lighthouse and summer vibes
Beck getting all the private lessons because men want women to teach them, women want women to teach them, and I look scary!
Yusukes Dads design firm
Yokohama Y150 celebrations, and the Nissan display, pretty awe inspiring for the future, good to be a witness to this evolution
Beck’s Mum here and she’s really enjoying it.
Kyoto shrine overload, coinciding with my home town getting waves arrghh
Osaka Aquarium, bloody amazing, out of this world, the Pacific Ocean tank with Whale Sharks, a tiger Shark, hammerheads, stingrays, mantas, tuna, one of the best visual sites my eyes have seen
Earthquakes in Japan! I experienced two, proper shake ups! And my phone has a warning signal embedded in it that sounds like a guinea pig getting run over by truck! Reeek reeek reeek !!!
Surfing Chiba, got some good waves at Chitose. Never forget our little Mumma’s Ruyoken we stayed in at Kamogawa.
Hokkaido clam and oysters bigger than a dishplate at Yusuke’s dad’s place.
The Autumn festival was pumping out front of our house
Old people in Japan arrrghhh!! They are everywhere, the ageing population problem is slap in the face evident.
The Wagyu, ate so much it made me malnourish spew
Selling, hawking, giving away our stuff we accumulaterd over 7 months in Japan, anyone for a front load toaster ?
A painting on a surfboard for our favourite little Japanese family, of Kugenuma
SAKE,mmmm:)Bye Japan
HOME.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
MUNDAKA 21st OCT 09
Two days after the Billabong Pro wrapped up at Mundaka and moved onto Portugal, The super left sand bank turned on fire, I gotta have this one day...
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
JAPAN TYPHOON MELOR
Japan braces for Typhoon Melor
ABC online
"A strong typhoon with wind gusts of more than 210 kilometres per hour is forecast to hit the main Japanese island of Honshu this morning.
Typhoon Melor has caused the cancellation of more than 200 flights in western Japan and knocked out power to more than 10,000 homes in the southern islands.
Melor could also dump up to 50 centimetres of rain and is tipped to be the first major typhoon to hit the densely population main island of Honshu in two years.
Japan's weather bureau has issued high-wave warnings and there are fears of flash floods and landslides."
ABC online
"A strong typhoon with wind gusts of more than 210 kilometres per hour is forecast to hit the main Japanese island of Honshu this morning.
Typhoon Melor has caused the cancellation of more than 200 flights in western Japan and knocked out power to more than 10,000 homes in the southern islands.
Melor could also dump up to 50 centimetres of rain and is tipped to be the first major typhoon to hit the densely population main island of Honshu in two years.
Japan's weather bureau has issued high-wave warnings and there are fears of flash floods and landslides."
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