Artist Statement

Monarch Skateboards is a company that designs and produces skateboards and skate merchandise for a primarily teenage and young adult demographic. This diversity of skate culture and style allows me to blend whatever with my own personal design style which is often structured and patterned, with designs and illustrations monochromatic and exploding with color. Skater personalities and tastes are always varied and individualistic. I design with that in mind, to be appealing to everyone in and out of the skate park.

The skateboards I design are made with blank decks that I print my designs onto using vinyl that sticks to the bottom of the deck. I wanted to incorporate a mixture of darker, grunge inspired designs and illustration with brighter colors like pinks and blues. This allows me to build off of traditional skateboard trends while adding my own personal flair. I use gritty textures for classic looks and bright patterns for more modern looks.

To aid me in brand consistency and bringing life to skate culture in my designs I took inspiration from a few sources. The key to making any successful design targeted at a specific demographic is to do research and see what has worked before, which is why Santa Cruz Skateboards has been a big inspiration for me. Their designs mix colorful illustration with a consistent brand look, even when their designs vary to include photography. Aesthetic Apparatus is another place I get my inspiration from; their bright colors and gritty textures always look great paired with their bold typography which I try to emulate in my skateboards, wheels, and other merchandise. They have everything from posters to packages to storefronts and keep brand consistency even if the design styles vary from project to project.