Dec 17, 2012 8 Questions with Allister Lee
We’ve been lucky enough to interview many-a-fascinating creative here on the ICL website, and this week is no exception! Toronto-based artist and creative powerhouse Allister Lee took on the name Black is Beautiful / BIB as an umbrella for the many personal projects he was involved in, way back in about 2004. The newly launched Black is Beautiful is Allister’s definitive “visual database of black markers from Artline to Zebra.” The site showcases his decade-plus love affair with black permanent markers, each displayed in crisp clean photography, alongside a sample of text. Rather than unleashing his entire collection at once, the project documents nine new markers each week – currently up to 51. Some highlights from Allister’s work include the Marker Stripes tee for Stussy, and of course, the Studio BIB 500 Marker Poster, created to celebrate the 500th acquisition in Allister’s black marker collection. If you’re interested in more upcoming projects from this talented creative, you’ll be glad to our know our friends at interTrend Communications have roped him into their 20th Anniversary Tenugui Project, so stay tuned for more on that. For a selection of original artwork and product from Allister Lee, please visit the Equal Dist website.
What are you currently working on?
Finishing up an illustrated repeating print pattern for Stussy and slew of tee graphics for Nike. In the middle of curating and laying out the next Black Is Beautiful Zine section for Lodown Magazine. It’s getting printed now and should be on newsstands by the end of the year. Concurrently working on a board graphic series for Shanghai-based Vagabond Skateboards based on Chang Jiang motorcycles that should drop in January, and finalizing design specs for a 2-pack footwear collaboration they have coming out in the Fall of 2013. Creating graphic collateral for the next Beijing Fixed event, their fifth annual gathering of cyclists from across Asia that takes place in the capital city every late summer. Putting together collaborative capsule project for Bay Area-based Atlas Skateboards, and putting together inspiration and ideas to create their apparel and skate deck graphics for FW 2013.
How would you describe your job?
Note taking, creating things and most importantly, continuing a dialogue with a spectrum of friends and clients.
What does your average work day look like?
Lately, I have things broken down into 2 shifts.
Morning: Wake up at 8 and do whatever needs to get done for North America / Europe based peoples till about 7pm.
Night: Start getting into work mode again for 9 pm and do whatever needs to get done for Asia based peoples till about 2 am or later, depending on deadlines.
Where do you find inspiration?
For creative inspiration I like printed things and objects. I like seeing things in person, the more obscure the reference the better. I’ve got my usual haunts around the city. For life inspiration, reaching out to friends and family for long phone calls, does the trick.
As a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
A drummer.
How does living and working in Toronto influence your output?
Toronto is a world class city, a great baseline to compare to other cities I visit. I have a comfortable living and working environment; everything in it’s right place. I have a nice little circle of friends and family, familiar haunts and know where to source certain things. As far as output goes, having these above things in order makes it easier to keep a creative rhythm and keep things moving.
What are you reading at the moment?
Fantasy basketball player reports on Rotoworld.
What’s is your favorite post-work destination?
A place to get food of some sort, whatever I am craving for that day.
