23 Questions!!

You could say that Trevor has a bit more of an edge to him than many of our other A-Listers. Be that, a wonderful edge! From graffiti art through to music mixing, there is more to Trevor than meets the eye. Read on to find out why!

What sparked your passion for design?
Street Art was the inspiration & still is today. If it wasn't for graffiti art, I would not be here.

How creative were you as a youngster?
Pretty creative I would say. Loved to draw cartoon characters from my imagination. Either sketching or making plastercine figures.

Do you come from a creative family?
Maybe on my Dads side but in general I don't think my family are this way inclined.

Were they supportive of your desire to be a designer? 
Very much so. Always were & still are. Cheers Mum & Dad!

What sort of education and training have you had?
Basic! Left high school with a few grades & went to college but drawing came natural to me & both institutes did nothing to enhance my talent. Best training I had was in my first job, working in a design studio in the real world & not in some college detached from reality.

Who did you want to work for when you first entered the industry?
I guess I imagined Id end up in some swanky London design studio flexing my skills. No names come to mind.

Tell us about your first project and what do you feel about it now?
The very first project I got, as a paid designer, was when I was 17. I was working at a London Design studio creating cartoon characters for confectionery  packaging. Drawing by hand! It was intimidating & hard cos I had no previous experience to refer to but once I saw my artwork on products in the high street, I knew things were looking up. Even if the products were cheap & nasty, it was cool seeing my work on real product before I was legally able to drink beer. I think today I look back & see how naive my work looks but also how much harder it was then. References were found in books. Artwork drawn by hand & took months to do. No PCs and no internet.

What is your preferred software to work with and what has been the greatest advancement in technology over the past 5 years? I use Photoshop & Illustrator as my tools of choice. Its a love / hate relationship. The biggest advancement in the last 5 years Id say has been the way internet has advanced. The design tools are pretty much the same & you still need a monster PC to handle big files. Its sad that in 2009 I still experience annoying issues with the tools even while using & powerful machine. It's a conspiracy! 

What are the various mediums that you’ve worked with and is there any that you would like to explore? 
I think Id like to play with 3D software, digital music manipulation/mixing, animation, slapping paint on canvases, sculpture.... 

Is digital technology going to eliminate the need for print?
I dont think digital tech will eliminate the need for print just yet. 

Whose work do you really admire and why?
I love Graffiti & can name a few artists I rate & who influence to this day. Seen, Bates, Daim, Can2. As a kid I think Tony Hart & Rolf Harris inspired me massively.

Who has been the greatest person that you’ve ever had the pleasure of working with and what have they taught you? I always work alone & never get help from anyone. But back in the day I did used to team up with a friend of mine called DON, a well known London graffiti artist. We were pretty similar minded & I think Id love to work with him today. I think we influenced each other yet our styles were quite different. 

What has been your greatest achievement so far?
Id say the travel I have done. Living in Taiwan for 5 years & eventually getting work there even though I cant speak Chinese , I still managed to hold down several jobs & deliver the goods & get work produced commercially. 

How would you describe your work?
I call it digital graphic art. Urban?  

What are your plans for the future?
I would like to get a book published one day with a friend & promote that. Would seriously like to work & travel because I can work remotely, as long as i have internet & a kick arse Mac laptop. Having my website TREVORLUTION pulling in regular work is my dream.

What sort of company would you like to work with next? 
I don't want to work for a company as such. (Without wanting to sound arrogant) Id much rather have people seek me out because they want my work. There are heaps of cool artists out there I be more than happy to collaborate with be it in Aus or over seas.

What is your opinion of Australian design? 
I think its as good as anywhere else. 

What is the best/worst thing about being a designer in Australia?
Best - The laid back vibe.
Worst - Small market & the high rate of tax.

In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge the Australian design industry has to face in the near future? I guess, just changing peoples opinion in general & promoting design as much as the government promotes sport. Lets see arts being promoted as much as AFL is rammed down our throats.

What is your creative outlet outside of design? 
Dabbling in music mixing. If I wasn't creating artwork, I'd be creating music.

What is the best designed bar in Melbourne? 
Section 8? Out doors container bar with graffiti & you can SMOKE!

What are your top 5 websites at the moment?
www.redbubble.com
www.flickr.com/creativecommons
www.greatbates.com
www.facebook.com
www.trevorlution.com

What CD are you currently listening to and is it any good?
Some Plump DJs. Bloody Awesome!

If I was a font, I’d be...? 
Parkway

Do you need an A-List Artisan like Trevor in your studio? Would you like to know more? Contact Mathew NOW!