Thick Line Design
Why do I love Thick Line Design? The simplicity, the allure that it seems so obvious and simple that we all think we can create it. But we don’t. There is something so special about minimal shapes creating a small or large piece of art. It can be hung up on a wall as a statement, on busy wall paper or blank gallery space and stand very strong in its positioning.
Who Is known for using Thick Lines? Well, we can look back at Verner Panton who was Denmark’s most influential furniture designer, you might recognise him for his iconic brightly coloured patterns - a staple of 60’s wallpaper, dresses and upholstery. Or, Kieth Haring who revolutionised the street art world in the 80s by filling in empty poster spaces in the New York subways, with his now iconic thick lined stickman characters, these entertained and spread awareness for campaigns and rights he believed in.
So, whilst these legends are art and design’s past - who’s carrying the torch for thick line design today?
Design Of Today Inspired By The Past
I want to take a look at Aaron James Draplin a graphic designer, spokesman, author and preserver of the past design that is fading away and dying out. Draplin loves the simple, but very practical icons and stamps that were created before computers. He often visits car boot sales / garage sales looking for old packing and trinkets that scream great design. He will buy it, take close up photos of the small overlooked icons on the side of a boardgames box, archive it and sometimes recreate it digitally on Adobe Illustrator to keep it alive in our digital age.
Check out the video below and you can quickly see Aaron’s passion for the design of the past.
Sometimes Its Easier Just To Do It Yourself
Draplin is a DIY kinda guy, and out of frustration he created his “Thick Line Poster Series”. He was simply on the hunt for a minimal Verner Panton style, 70’s thick line art. But he couldn’t find anything suitable and even when he did, it was over $1,000! He knew they had to be out there as he remembers them from his childhood, but still came out empty handed. So, in his frustration he made his own “Thick Line Poster Series” and sells them for a reasonable price so we don’t have to go through the trouble he did to find good 70’s style thick line art.
Link to the DDC Store Click Here
Just a few of Aaron Draplin’s Thick Line Series
Missed Opportunities & Still Winning
In 2011, the Space Shuttle Program had their last mission and NASA held a competition to design a new badge to commemorate the event. But somehow Draplin didn’t know and missed his chance to enter. He was pissed off and made his own Space Shuttle Tribute badge design anyway. Nine editions in and Draplin has made very popular “Space Shuttle Tribute Series” with wall art, t-shirts, temporary tattoos, caps and of course badges. Draplin’s Shuttle design hasn’t gone to space but it is all around the world now. Winning!
Link to the DDC Store Click Here
My Takeaway
Hearing all of Aaron Draplin’s stories of how some of his best work came about is really refreshing. As creative people, most of us have a tendency to feel overwhelmed, frustrated and gutted with how our work is turning out and how the world reacts to it. But it’s great to hear massive success out of bad situations. Draplin says “I stumbled into this style in Adobe Illustrator, out of desperation.“ He didn’t give up he just tried something new. I myself have been in creative slumps or hit a creative dead end on a job, but somehow pulled it off and it turns out better I could have imagined. But it’s easy to forget when you are in the moment. So, Aaron Draplin’s attitude and stories are a reassuring reminder of the creative process in the real world. I think I’m going to try out some thick line design’s myself.
Credit:
Aaron Draplin’s Book: Draplin Design Co. Pretty Much Everything
