We wanted to post this today to get across our story and journey so far to our followers, ongoing visitors, and our new visitors, and tell you where we are as a company, and how we can help you out with getting your creative voice out there for the globe to see.
We really appreciate everyone that has submitted their own t-shirt design, and the others who are waiting for approve we are gradually working our way through everyone, so please don’t get discouraged that we have not accepted you yet, sorry about that.
We still love all of them! If you havn’t already, we always welcome submissions of every form, so please don’t hesitate to submit one to us.
The Story Before Setting Up Graphic Tide
A couple of years before Graphic Tide, during my industrial year placement (one year work experience during my undergraduate degree) at University, I was known as the ‘t-shirt guy’ to the others who I have worked with. I was always wearing t-shirts with cool designs on them, I would receive daily comments about the t-shirts I was wearing. Some of you might also get this too, but once I was even introduced as, “he always wears amazing t-shirts”.
Being an avid t-shirt collector for many years, myself and my two partners (well brothers actually), HKJS & Cam, between us we have been hunting and buying great t-shirt designs from all over the world. After the years of collecting awesome designs, Haydn started to start designing t-shirts himself, posting them online and getting positive feedback. Receiving all these comments, pushed Haydn to improve and improve.
We started to notice that designers have or at some point would dabble into t-shirt designing of some form (even at a basic level).
We wanted to provide a platform for artists and designers, regardless of their artistic style, or skill level, and to provide a platform that promotes their ideas, passions, themselves as creatives, and most importantly, their work. We wanted to create something that benefitted the community. That’s why we started Graphic Tide.
Our main focus is selling t-shirts online, and spreading the work of all of you guys. We found the best way to express yourself as an artist is on a mass scale. What better way then hundreds of people purchasing and wearing your design in all corners of the globe?
Other areas where we think we’re inputting value into the art community is via this blog. Our blog isn’t the usual ‘sell, sell, sell’ blogs you might have seen before! We wanted to use our blog to give you the most up-to-date Graphic Tide news, but mainly to provide you with value.
Graphic Design, Illustration and Photography
Haydn’s personal experience of freelancing outlined to us how competitive the market is, and how important is making people see your art. Even if your the most talented creative out there, if you don’t market yourself, no one will see it!
We always wanted to start something together, something that would fuel our passions and enjoy doing. We believe that Graphic Tide is just that, now we just need you to keep sending us t-shirt designs that we can show your work on.
Whilst driving across England we spent 4 hours or more, thinking of names for our company and we decided to merge two of our passions. Art and Surfing. Together we welcomed the beginning of Graphic Tide. We thought it has a nice ring to it, which gives you a hint of what we are about.
Here’s some background and some info about each of us and what we do here at GT.
Ash (Nero)
An experienced web developer from Hampshire, UK. He has been working with websites for many years, and with the help of HKJS and Cam, developed this website which your on now. He is also known as ‘The T-shirt Guy’. Ash deals with everything to do with the back end of the website.
Haydn (HKJS)
Haydn has been illustrating and designing for many years, and loves anything to do with art and design. He is also an Illustrator, and has made some of the designs which are shown in the shop.
Cam (as Cam)
Cam is currently studying Graphic Design and really enjoys anything to do with typography, concepts, ideas, and making anything and everything look visually stunning. Cam deals with the graphic part of the website, who also designed the logo.
Where We Are Now
We have been around for a while now, and have recently added a few extra things to our website. We have very recently opened our Graphic Tide Voting Platform, which allows the community to vote, and tweet, for their favourite t-shirt designs. If they reach 100 votes, their design gets printed, available in the shop, and for them to make commission on every sale.
We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know where we are as a company, and how we created Graphic Tide. With the help of you, yes you, we can hopefully get more of your work out there for the whole world to see. I can’t wait to see what you’ve got to send us, so please do! Have a good day everyone!
