As a kickoff to PDA (Pacific Design Academy) GD1 (Graphic Design Year 1) I have been asked to find 10 sources of inspiration and explain what they mean to me. This wasn't as easy as I thought. I couldn't name you 10 famous artists off the top of my head let alone 10 that i felt inspired by. Then it hit me, when I was happiest in my past it was largely dependant on the people, places and lifestyle that surrounded me. These sources of inspiration were a direct result of my surroundings. I have chosen to break these inspirations down according to the places I have lived in order to help me realize what exactly I connected with. Here are my first 5 sources of inspiration, along with some examples:
TOFINO - signed up for 6 months and stayed for 2 years.
1. CHILI THOM: I was introduced to Chili's work in Tofino and ended up seeing more of his work in Whistler. Ironically enough I went to see a DJ realizing at the time that it was the artist that I had followed over the past couple years. His use of west coast landscapes and imagery jumped out to me right away largely due to the fact that he largely used Tofino and Whistler for his inispiration. He tends to use vibrant colors in all his work and, to me, he comes across as a modern day Ted Harrison.
WHISTLER - on and off for 3 years.
2. POWDER MAGAZINE: The magazine of choice for most skiers is Powder Magazine. The 2 issues I would never miss were the Buyer's Guide at the start of the season and the Photo Annual at the end. It wasn't just the content of the articles that inspired, it was the way the design elements of the magazine summed up the culture perfectly. Even back then I could tell that a lot of typical design rules were broken and this meshed well with a community that looked for separation from the behemoth that is the snowboarding industry.
WEB - http://www.powder.com/
3. BLAKE JORGENSON: Blake is an action sports photographer who calls Whistler home...even though he tends to spend most of his time everywhere else according to his work. I was first introduced to his work when reading Powder Magazine's photo annual and now he seems to occupy most pages with his work. Some people argue that there are no ugly pictures in a place like Whistler. If this is the case then why do all of Blake's pictures stand out above the rest. I believe that he has one of the best eye's for showcasing the athletes of Whistler and capturing the ridiculousness of their talent.
WEB - http://www.blakejorgenson.com/
WEB - http://www.blakejorgenson.com/
4. VANCOUVER 2012: Working for the Olympics was the most difficult and rewarding job I have had to date. I find it hard to imagine that any experience could match it. Working behind the scenes allowed me to be up close and personal with many of the branding decisions made regarding the Olympic Villages. This was my first exposure to the business end of design and it definitely sparked an interest to learn more about what went into the "look and feel" of the games.
5. SKI COMPANIES: Just before the start of every season skiers wait for their fix of new ski gear. The buyers guides showcase new designs with an artist's work showcased on the top of skis. It was always interesting to see what the smaller companies would come up with in order to stand out among the rest and often times give a new artist a chance to show his or her work. Line and Armada were always companies that came up with something new on a yearly basis.
WEB - LINE - http://lineskis.com/
These were some of the greatest inspirations of my adult life. Stay tuned for my next post where I will dig a little deeper into my childhood to find sources of inspiration that stood the test of time and still make the present list.
A quote as a send off:
"Your experience in nature depends on how you choose to position yourself within it"
- Chili Thom -
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