Socklight: Designer Adam White

When it comes to creative talent, we like to be ahead of the curve. But sometimes we go after the well-known and loved—like Craze One designer, Adam White. Nebraska kid through and through, this former roller rink stuntman has mad skills. In fact, we have had a hard time keeping up with him. Besides his main gig: a graphic t-shirt line called Craze One, his current projects include an animated music video, a vinyl action figure and a snowboard design. Busy man, we know. We thought we’d shine some light on this man of the moment…

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Published in the book, Faesthetic by Threadless

SITM: Which SITM styles are stamped with your name?
AW
: Stormy, Sparrow, Baby Jacks, Adam’s Apple… plus I helped re-design a number of others. Then I worked on a few of the holiday cards and ads over the years. It’s been a lot of fun!

SITM: Do you wear the socks or shirts you’ve designed?
AW
: Once in a while. I wear all the Sock It To Me men’s designs. Favorite socks I own.

SITM: What’s the deal with your GARBAGE PAIL KIDS® design for Craze One?
AW
: Honestly, the whole project has been a dream come true. In the late 90’s, I went down my list of projects I wanted to accomplish in a lifetime. A Garbage Pail Kid related project was always on my mind, so after some research, I tracked down GARBAGE PAIL KIDS® artist John Pound and bought an original color rough painting from the original series. We have been corresponding ever since. (He is a really nice guy, and one of my favorite artists.) For almost a decade now, John and I have talked about creating a Garbage Pail Kids parody sticker card for my clothing label Craze One, and last year, it finally happened: A full color vinyl sticker that has a die-cut peel out center (just like the originals) with a short comic strip I illustrated on the back. Each of the 1,000 ‘first print – 1a series’ is hand numbered in sequential order. Like I said, a dream come true!

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Adam's sketches for a logo concept, part of which was used for his former clothing store/gallery, Eighteen Tigers

SITM: We heard you started out with a Lite Brite. Ever try your hand at Etcha-Sketch?
AW: I have. Many years ago I once spent hours Etcha-Sketching a drawing of a living room, with every detail of the TV, furniture, wallpaper, and base boards. It sat on display, propped up on a shelf behind the counter of a store downtown, untouched for years. When the store moved, they returned it to me, still intact like the day it was created. One day a friend came over, and I took it out of the box to show him. I said “Remember this from about 8 years ago?” His first reaction was to turn it upside down and shake it….gone just like that.

SITM: What is your fave, go-to daily website?
AW: Flickr.com: Simple, inspirational, and easy to get lost in.

SITM: Your drink of choice after a long day?
AW
: A cold soda pop, really. Caffeinated, cold bubbly goodness!

SITM: Favorite book?
AW: Right now, it is a book I’ve been working on for over a year now. It’s called SHIN SPLINT, an inspiring collection of illustrators, graphic designers, painters, photographers, musicians and various interviews from around the world.

ADAM-WHITE-IMAGE-7
Published in the book, Faesthetic by Threadless

SITM: Best thing about Lincoln, Nebraska?
AW
: Quiet and safe (he says with a “question mark”). I really don’t know anymore. I guess, like a lot of people, I just have a little spot in my heart for the town I grew up in.

SITM: Worst thing about Lincoln, Nebraska?
AW
: Lack of bands touring here, no Ethiopian restaurants, snow…lots and lots of snow.

SITM: Who would you be most honored to have wear one of your designs?
AW
: David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Iggy Pop, Alan Alda, Michael Cera

SITM: David Bowie… yeah. Totally. We’re with you. Good luck to you, Adam! We love you.

p.s. Check out Adam’s graphic tees, photos and projects on Flickr.

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