TIMOTHY BLACK

1. At what point did you decide the artist and design life was for you?

Pretty early ... As a grom I was always into drawing and stuff, and wanted to make cartoons, which looking back was a pretty hefty pipe-dream. My focus shifted, as it does in high school, and my well-meaning Art teacher made me continue with a "Graphics" class instead of dropping it for PE under the guise of "Do you want to be the guy telling them where the sign goes and how it should look, or the guy out in the sun trying to please someone else's vision". Somehow I liked both sides of that equation, but yeah, reckon those two things set me on the path to designer-hood.

2. Do you think you have a design style and how do you think it developed?

Kinda. I'm a bit of a motsa-ball due to career experience I reckon. If I had a preference for style I'd say clean and simple. Somehow communication of some message or logical approach always play into my work (lessons from a wise old desktop publishing guru lead me down that path), so I guess I start there. In reality my style is probably more flexible and a bit all over the place, although it's heavily influenced by surf and maybe even street art to a point (always loved Shepard Fairey's ability to make solid shapes and screen printed methods communicate so effectively).

3. Of all the tools and software available in creative industry, what couldn’t you work without?

Recently been frothing out on my iPad pro! I've only had it maybe 8 months, but now with a new mac and the "sidecar" functionality it's kinda expanding into a more usable bit of kit. It's probably also helped by the work I've been able to sink my teeth into recently (more illustrative type stuff or at least from concept stage). I may get over this little obsession and my favour will probably return to indesign's faithful ways... Oh and XD is pretty rad these days too ...

4. What work have you done that you rate as your best work to date? (be sure to add a link if you have one!)

Heavy question. I've loved so much of what I've done because of the variety in my career so far (less about blowing me trumpet about quality outcome, more about the experience). Maybe I'll break it in half... 1: about 10 years ago (maybe more) I worked on a Surfing Life Magazine DVD called Typhoon Wasabi. I designed and did the motion on all the graphics and menus (back when DVDs were cool) and it was my last DVD before I left that gig for a job in the clothing industry. It was a pretty special time with a pretty special crew of humans. 2: Publishing is split in two for me ... A couple of years ago the ABC asked me to design their 'rage30' magazine (rage's 30th anniversary magazine). It was super fun with spatterings of everything throughout. As with everything there were bits that sucked - unavoidable client decisions that in your own eyes negatively effect the outcome - but overall it was epic. The second part of this is a brand called Tropicsurf (Luxury Surf Travel - look em up), who produce an annual book / magazine. Every year I look forward to it and every year the outcome seems somehow better. The 2020 edition tops the list here for me.

5. What was the inspiration for your MVRK design(/s)?

Fun. It's gotta be THE inspiration piece right? There's some that didn't make the cut that I'd love to wear, but I think with boardies if you're not having fun you're not doing it right. Even if they're a bit darker, there's still an element of them being fun to wear to consider. They're boardies after all!!

6. If you could see any design on a pair of boardshorts, what would it be?

Something no-one's seen before.

7. If you could see anyone rocking your MVRK boardies, who would it be?

Obama. His pins would look pretty funny poking out the bottom of those things + social media reach ... AMIRIGHT?!

8. Boardshorts at weddings have been a thing, what's the weirdest boardies combo you've ever seen?

Long tartan printed boardies, wife-beater, long dress socks and leather dress boots. Dunno what he was up to, but you knew it was serious.

9. Of all the places, clients, mediums and locations in the world; where would you love to see your work shown?

I've never tried to show work in a gallery or anything like that. To be honest, I'd be stoked to see it locally. The Gold Coast has so many local landmarks and so many epic artists contributing to them, so just to be a part of that legacy would be pretty sweet.

10. Where can people find you?

Somewhere between Currumbin and Burleigh. Heading north past the talle bridge only happens on work days though ...