Welcome to Let's Talk Shop! Here, we share amazing stories about customization and industry experts. Today, we’re excited to tell you about Zack, the creative mind behind Self-Made Designs.
Zack's story shows how passion, creativity, and hard work can turn a love for art into a successful screen printing business. Watch the video below to hear from Zack himself and read on to learn more about his incredible journey.
VIDEO
AUDIO ONLY
REDISCOVERING ARTISTIC PASSION
Zack’s art journey began with an old skateboard. He stripped it down and painted a tree on it, finding his love for art again. This led to more projects and a surprise business opportunity. During a basketball game, a player was going to throw away a pair of Jordan Vs. Zack asked to customize them, starting a new venture. He began customizing and restoring sneakers, even working with boxers who got custom shoes from Nike for their big fights.
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FROM DOODLING TO SCREEN PRINTING
As a kid, Zack loved art and was a big fan of Andy Warhol. He spent hours drawing NBA logos. Even though he was told to go for a practical career like architecture, he stuck with art. In college, he started thinking about his brand, Self-Made Designs. Inspired by artists like Shepard Fairey and Johnny Cupcakes, he wanted a brand that showed his work ethic. After leaving college, Zack focused completely on art and screen printing.
THE EVOLUTION OF SELF-MADE DESIGNS
Zack's first art sale was a skateboard with a guy playing the piano, selling for $150. His first custom sneakers sold for $250. Always wanting to get better, Zack tried screen printing. His first attempts with Custom Ink didn’t work well, so he watched YouTube tutorials and learned to do it himself. He started with hand-cut stencils and then used a Cricut Cutter.
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BUILDING A COMMUNITY
Seeing how screen printing could help artists, Zack built a team and supportive community. He created a gym for artists with private studios and shared spaces. When COVID-19 hit, Zack adapted by building private studios and using the extra time people had to work on their clothing brands.
OPPORTUNITIES AND GROWTH
Zack took every chance to learn and grow, from fitness challenges to traveling for installations and trade shows. Meeting industry legends and working on big projects, like installing presses for well-known shops, has been very rewarding.
CONCLUSION
Zack's journey from customizing a skateboard to becoming known in screen printing is full of passion, hard work, and learning. Every project, challenge, and opportunity shaped his path. Whether you’re starting out or reigniting your creative spark, remember that every step, big or small, helps you grow as an artist and entrepreneur.
