T H — F / W ‘12
designing for corporate America and I was over it. I didn’t skate as much as I wanted to, and the design project that I was working on was uninspiring. The paper plane was a sticker meant as a reminder to not lose sight of the golden things in life that we love. I posted the stickers up around the city on my days off. It’s a youthful symbol that, when put in motion, represents growth and progression—which is important! You get old and die when you lose touch with your youth and stop progressing.
design work that you possibly can; the rest will fall into place. I also can’t stress the importance of personal projects enough—I would not be doing this interview if I didn’t start the Benny Gold brand as a side project to my full time job. It was started to creatively challenge myself. Personal projects can really unlock your creativity because you are not confined by what the client wants. Make yourself the client!
Where did the phrase “Stay Gold,” originate from and what does it mean to you and your designs? “Stay Gold” was part of the original paper plane sticker. It helped to push the message behind the stickers. As everything progressed and what I was doing naturally turned into a “brand,” I needed something more personal. I dropped the “stay” and added my name to it, much like the punk bands I looked up to as a kid. It felt reminiscent of Joey Ramone, Kevin Seconds, Ray Of Today, and all the others.
Who do you look to for advice and guidance? Do you have a mentor? I always turn to my friends from design school for advice. We have continued to push each other to do the best work possible long after we graduated. Hersk and Dave Taylor always tell me what they honestly think about my work and help me push it further. Thanks guys! As far as mentors go, Keith Hufnagel has definitely helped make sure that I am on the right path with business. Jim Thiebaud has become a great friend and mentor over the years. He really knows what it means to put your heart into a project.
Tell the readers about your collaborative shoe with The Hundreds. I was lucky enough to work on a few great shoe collabs when I was working with Huf. I loved how they represented the city we were from, and had a story that people could get behind. When The Hundreds asked me to work on a shoe with them I took the same approach. The shoe is based on the iconic Golden Gate Bridge—one of the many aspects that make San Francisco so great. I hope this shoe is as close to memorable as the bridge that it is based on.
What are some of the things that have helped get you where you are today? Following your dreams and not being afraid of failure really helped get me to where I am. I sent out a million resumes with design samples when I first got to San Francisco and nobody called me in for an interview. I didn’t let that stop me, and sent out a million more until I landed my first real job. The rest is a blur and that first job set everything in motion. What would have happened if I gave up after nobody called me back?
What was your favorite part about working on the project? The best part of any project is always working with friends! Ben, Bobby, Scotty and Benjie are great people and I am proud to call them friends.
What do you hope to accomplish in the end? Any long-term goals? My goals have always been the same—have fun doing what I’m doing, and put out great work!
Do you have a funny anecdote or memory involving Ben, Bobby, or anyone at The Hundreds? Oh man. Those guys are all crazed, especially Scotty. Did you know that Benjie used to be a well-known rave DJ? Let’s leave it at that…yikes.
What do you think sets Benny Gold a part from other skate and street brands? Honesty and passion. We don’t fake anything, it all comes from the heart. I also hope that my story and path helps people realize their own dreams.
What is your advice for those who want to break into the design industry? Do it because you love it, and are focused on putting out the best
Big plans for 2012? My daughter just took her first steps. That makes 2012 huge for me already!
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THE HUNDREDS MAGAZINE