Kristian Woodmansee is partial owner/ lead designer of Elusive Designs. Kristian will work his magic for FIX IT BROKEN, designing the Fashionable Fiction T-shirt for Issue #1.
I was able to get an interview with Kristian, where we spoke about designing, Optimus Prime tattoos, strippers, and collaborating with FIX IT BROKEN. Check it out.
Greg Dybec: What does Elusive mean to you, as a company and in the long run?
Kristian Woodmansee: Webster will tell you that Elusive means...eluding clear perception or complete mental grasp; hard to express or define. That’s exactly what it is. It is so many things that it is hard to describe. Elusive is a vision, a dream pretty much. Every time the company progresses I feel like my goals have been reached, but in actuality I hope it never stops. I ultimately want to be my own boss and have a company I can support my family with. And if that’s not feasible I hope that it will be successful enough so that I’ll be able to design for a major company.
GD: How long have you been designing and what do you enjoy most about it?
KW: I've always been into designing, at least the idea of it. Originally, I was into the "numbers" side of the business, but just recently got into the creative aspect. It has been about five years now since I started and it has become an addiction. The biggest pay off is when someone views a piece that I have created and feels the same emotion(s) I did when designing it.
GD: How would you describe your design style and process?
KW: When it comes to my work I'm very particular and stern, which can cause conflict with clients, but it hasn't yet. I like simple, and if I don't like the finished product then it goes unseen and into the recycling bin. When it comes to designing clothing, I don't create anything that I wouldn't wear. When it comes to designing everything else, its pretty much the same type of deal. I'll look at my work and if I can admire it as if it were done by someone else, then it’s a keeper.
Kristian Woodmansee: Webster will tell you that Elusive means...eluding clear perception or complete mental grasp; hard to express or define. That’s exactly what it is. It is so many things that it is hard to describe. Elusive is a vision, a dream pretty much. Every time the company progresses I feel like my goals have been reached, but in actuality I hope it never stops. I ultimately want to be my own boss and have a company I can support my family with. And if that’s not feasible I hope that it will be successful enough so that I’ll be able to design for a major company.
KW: I've always been into designing, at least the idea of it. Originally, I was into the "numbers" side of the business, but just recently got into the creative aspect. It has been about five years now since I started and it has become an addiction. The biggest pay off is when someone views a piece that I have created and feels the same emotion(s) I did when designing it.
GD: How would you describe your design style and process?
My City (Kristian Woodmansee)
GD: Any outside interests help as motivation for your work?
KW: Everything influences my work. Music is usually the biggest pusher when it comes to live time designing. I can usually look at something and be able to tell what I was listening to when I was working on it. Other than music I can usually grab inspiration from anything. Everything has something to offer.
KW: Everything influences my work. Music is usually the biggest pusher when it comes to live time designing. I can usually look at something and be able to tell what I was listening to when I was working on it. Other than music I can usually grab inspiration from anything. Everything has something to offer.
GD: It’s hard not to notice all of the tattoos. How many do you currently have, and how many more do you plan on getting? Also, do you have a favorite?
KW: Haha...This is a great question; I wish I could give a great answer. Number wise I don't have many. Eight in total as of right now. I’m actually finishing my left sleeve on November 7th and starting my right sleeve in the same session. I don't want to be the white Lil Wayne, but I would like to cover my whole upper body, minus my face. My favorite is a stand out. I have the original Optimus Prime wearing a gold rope chain and he has a stack of money in one hand and a gun in the other. It's the main attraction in my sleeve. I usually tell people, when showing it to them, that the money is for the bitches and the gun is for the snitches. Girls eat it up.
GD: Share a worthwhile story (about anything) with us. We’ve all got at least one.
KW: I am horrible at this type of stuff. I once went to a strip club with a few friends, always a good time right? Well, after about an hour goes by, I recognize one of the dancers, she was my cousin. This was not really a major issue, since we weren't close (even though she was embarrassed). The bad part was that I opened my mouth and told my friends. My one friend then proceeded over to her location and started throwing dollar bills at her. I have not spoken to her since.
GD: What aspect of partnering with FIX IT BROKEN interests you the most?
KW: I'm always eager to work with new people/companies. It’s even better that I’ve happened to become friends with the man behind the scenes. Greg is the man, and we share the same views on things. We are both young, making some serious life moves that can be respected by all kinds of people. We are planning to take over the world.
KW: Haha...This is a great question; I wish I could give a great answer. Number wise I don't have many. Eight in total as of right now. I’m actually finishing my left sleeve on November 7th and starting my right sleeve in the same session. I don't want to be the white Lil Wayne, but I would like to cover my whole upper body, minus my face. My favorite is a stand out. I have the original Optimus Prime wearing a gold rope chain and he has a stack of money in one hand and a gun in the other. It's the main attraction in my sleeve. I usually tell people, when showing it to them, that the money is for the bitches and the gun is for the snitches. Girls eat it up.
GD: Share a worthwhile story (about anything) with us. We’ve all got at least one.
KW: I am horrible at this type of stuff. I once went to a strip club with a few friends, always a good time right? Well, after about an hour goes by, I recognize one of the dancers, she was my cousin. This was not really a major issue, since we weren't close (even though she was embarrassed). The bad part was that I opened my mouth and told my friends. My one friend then proceeded over to her location and started throwing dollar bills at her. I have not spoken to her since.
GD: What aspect of partnering with FIX IT BROKEN interests you the most?
KW: I'm always eager to work with new people/companies. It’s even better that I’ve happened to become friends with the man behind the scenes. Greg is the man, and we share the same views on things. We are both young, making some serious life moves that can be respected by all kinds of people. We are planning to take over the world.
GD: What does the term ‘Fix it Broken’ mean to you?
KW: I have no clue what it actually means. I have never asked the idea behind it or anything. I could throw out some random farfetched meaning that would sound cool but is probably nowhere near the real answer. I would say that in order to stand out in today’s world you have to be different than the last guy. This generation is all about taking an idea that some would perceive as wrong, or that would never work, and throwing it in their face when it does. The name, the idea, it’s different and it’s working.
KW: I have no clue what it actually means. I have never asked the idea behind it or anything. I could throw out some random farfetched meaning that would sound cool but is probably nowhere near the real answer. I would say that in order to stand out in today’s world you have to be different than the last guy. This generation is all about taking an idea that some would perceive as wrong, or that would never work, and throwing it in their face when it does. The name, the idea, it’s different and it’s working.
Be sure to look for Kristian's completed design and t-shirt along with Issue #1 of FIX IT BROKEN.
Check out Elusive's online store HERE.
Check out Elusive's online store HERE.
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