I’m very happy to introduce you an old friend of ours, Dan Roach, freelance graphic designer and illustrator, a member of the Tshirt Factory designer community. He creates projects ranging from poster designs, cd cover designs, t-shirt designs to illustration. He’s fluent in CorelDraw and is always open for new challenges. He constantly researches new ideas and inspirations , so if you’re looking for an open-minded designer, make sure you contact Dan. Here’s a short background on his journey as a t-shirt designer:
OANA: Please tell us more about your art and design background and what made you become a designer?
DAN: My art and design background inspiration is from crest design style or shield and arm design style. I went to design school for 2 years and I mostly learned art and design from the internet. I’m slook for design inspiration on websites then I get the main idea from it all. My first artwork was for a band merchandise and also for a clothing brand tshirt design.
OANA: How or when did you start illustrating on a professional level?
DAN: I started my proffesional work when I joined the tshirt design community website Mintees,. Before that it was Emptees. I lurked around at first, then I started selling my artwork and some clients emailed me about how they’re interested in my work. They ended up buying my artwork so that is how it all started.
OANA: Where does your inspiration come from?
DAN: Like I said before my inspiration comes from browsing design sites and getting ideas from them, but also I can get ideas from watching movies or from magazines and comic books.
OANA: How would you describe your style?
DAN: My style is minimum color, with simple curves that usually become vector logos similar to crest design style.
OANA: What tools you use? Do you go 100% digital or is there paper involved?
DAN: I use Corel Draw and sometimes Photoshop elements for my artwork. I’m doing everything 100% digital.
OANA: Is there anything that you specifically avoid using in your illustrations?
DAN: Yes, I always avoid human faces or animal faces; also negative symbols like, satanic symbols, devil or everything that seems have a negative connotation.
OANA: What was the hardest job you have ever worked on?
DAN: I design all my artwork, simple. So I don’t feel that I work hard in any of my artworks.
OANA: Can you name some of your favorite designs and why?(personal or from other designers)
DAN: All my work is my favorite. If i don’t like one of my designs, I’ll probably throw it in the
trash can 🙂
OANA: Any graphic designers you admire?
DAN: Zach Shuta , Kyle Crawford , Saintgraphic – they are great designers.
OANA: Any words of advice for anyone just starting out as an illustrator/graphic designer?
DAN: Just learn from everyone and then start making some artwork, of your own. That’s it !
Oh, Dan! Thank you for making it sound so easy! But it probably is, and we overcomplicate things, like us humans do with everything else.
Let us know what you think of Dan’s designs in the comments. Have you purchased any of his artworks?
