With partner-in-crime, Jason Bacon, Texas-transplant Derek Welch lives a double design life doing work for high profile clients like Nike, LEGO, Virgin Mobile, Converse through the duo’s firm Big-Giant while simultaneously running UNKL Brand. UNKL makes art, gaphic t’s, and especially vinyl toys (currently sold in every continent except Antarctica, according to Welch) like the perversely appealing Tinpo’s. Find them locally at Just Be .
Qualities you most admire in design: Simplicity
Qualities you most despise in design: I despise bad design in general but also recognize the necessity of it in the overall scheme of things. After all, without bad design there would be no good design.
Reading: Emulsion side down
Listening to: Junior Brown, Celtic Frost and the theme to T.J. Hooker
Dream project: Okay, it’s nerdy, but if I had the opportunity to design the vessels and weapons for a Star Wars movie, that would be it for me. I know Lucas is done with Star Wars, but it’d be cool anyway.
Favorite virtue: Wisdom
Favorite vice: I love good cigars.
Tragic flaw: I’m not perfect but I expect everyone around me to be perfect.
Secret superhero power: Never have to sleep or use the sandbox.
That which keeps your afterburners firing: A can of Trappey’s jalapeno pinto beans.
What you’d like to be when you grow up: Steve McQueen
Portland’s best kept secret: The “Hank Williams” tamales plate at Esparza’s.
Portland heroes (sung or un-): Katsu Tanaka of Compound/Just Be and the guys over at Good Dog Bad Dog. The magma dog smothered with jalapenos and mustard…done and done. Mark Parker…I wish I had his full-size Maschinen Krieger figure.
Interesting on the horizon (PDX): Sales Tax
WHAT TO DO NOW?