Interview by Ross Zietz

Hello there? What's up dude

Hello, and how are you doing? It's a lazy Sunday afternoon here, and I'm procrastinating, surfing the threadless blog forum instead of working on numerous half finished designs :/

Did you go to school? Where and what for?

I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Communications (media/cultural studies) at the University of Wollongong. My degree had absolutely nothing to do with design or creative arts. I really wanted to study art at high school, but dropped it due to the dictatorial arts teachers we had. All I wanted to do was draw and paint, and they would force us to use pipe cleaners and egg cartons to make crap.


I have always wanted to visit Australia. Everything about the continent seems awesome but the vegemite and the sharks. What is the best way to eat vegemite, cuz I have tried it and it seems like an aquired taste?

To tell you the truth, and I'm going to cop alot of flack over this from my fellow Aussies, I have yet to acquire the taste either. Sharks on the other hand go down well with a nice drop of Australian red.

What sparks your creativity? Where do you come up with your best ideas in general?

Annoyingly enough, most of my ideas come to me when I'm furthest from a computer and/or sketch pad. Usually whilst I'm driving to work, or at work and can't jot the idea down anywhere. Luckily my mobile phone has a notepad feature and I've created a file entitled "Ideas 4 T-shirts". On last count there were just over 70 entries, most just useless random words of which I can never remember the ideas behind them. Some recent entries include:
Fishnet stockings with fish caught in them;
Mix-up at the costume shop;
Vector balloons don't pop; and
Spork & Mindy

Mine always come to me right before I go to sleep. Who or what inspires you? Who is your favorite artist?

The usual. Music, films, magazines, old books (and old book covers), vintage cameras, antiques, cartoons, comics, cheesy 70s tele-movies, sexploitation, blaxploitation, nick zedd, russ meyer, john waters, French new wave cinema, Khalil Gibran, graffiti, hiphop, dondi, duro, atome, merda, dmote, Banksy, WK Interact, early childhood paraphernalia such as toys and children's books, 80s board games (and board game boxes), old postcards, early 20th century packaging and advertisements, my family and friends, my girlfriend, funny situations, raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens... yeah...
Just the usual I guess.


What do you do to get past a creativity dry period?

I usually get really frustrated. This is quickly followed by a little self-hatred and a brief bout of depression. Seriously though, I just take a break, take a little time out to let my mind and creativity (or lack there of) rejuvenate. Often I leave whatever design is bugging me and start something new. This leads to many half finished designs that loiter on my hard drive.

Thats what you gotta do it. How and when did you hear about threadless?

I discovered Threadless via a link on designiskinky in 2001 (the maiden year) I became a less-than-active member that year (user no.554!!!), and then an active one in 2004.

Woah user 554 nice. Do you think that Threadless helps designers?

Of course! Threadless is not only great exposure for many young designers, artists, and students, but it has also become a great community and network for designers to share ideas, tips, and often just vent about what's going
on in their neck of the woods. The blog forum has given many designers the opportunity to connect and get to know one another on a more intimate level. Lord knows I've made many e-friends (to steal a term often used by mezo) in the last year or so.

What did you spend all of the money that you have won from us on? Anything cool and or illegal?

I haven't won enough yet (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more) to buy anything cool and/or illegal. I think I spent it on boring stuff like paying the bills.

Ha. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Why would I want to grow up? I'm enjoying being a 30 year old kid too much. That said I'd love someone to offer me a creative job designing 'stuff' so that I may quit my 9-5 as a file clerk (no seriously!)


What do you do if you really have to fart, but you are trapped in an elevator with a bunch of babes?

Blame it on Moss. He is in the lift with me isn't he?

Speed Round... Answer fast... Go...

What is your favorite:

Cheese?
Cheddar
Book?
The Alchemist
Movie?
Gregory's Girl
Life is Sweet
Bottle Rocket
Song?
Miss Modular - Stereolab
Word?
Oblique
Color?

Television show?
Seinfeld
Monkey Magic
Side Order?
Fries
Super hero?
Superman
Monster?
Dracula
Beer?
Pilsner Urquell (Czech)
Tooheys New (Aust.)
Farm Animal Sound?
Moo
Threadless shirt?
Burn
Threadless employee?
The cleaning lady
Sport?
Basketball
James Bond?
Sean Connery
Smell?
Usless fact #00176 I haven't had a sense of smell for about 4 years. However I did once appreciate the smell of freshly cut grass, walking through a food court at lunch time, and my girlfriends perfume mixed with her own body scent.
Website?
www.theyrule.net
Onomatopoeia (can't be a farm animal sound)?
Umph!


Cool. It was nice talking with you man. Any last words?

Thanks Ross, and thank you T-Less crew!

Interview by Ross Zietz

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