@middleboop

Instagram: @middleboop Twitter: @middleBoop Behance: www.behance.net/middleboop Website: www.middleboop.com  

1. What's your story? Where are you from?

So I started Middle Boop just around the time I was finishing university. I was pretty stubborn back then (still now) and didn't want to go into a junior design role or unpaid internship really. I wanted to get known for my own work and style and to be fair, at the time, my portfolio was geared towards a more illustrative route anyway. I started off doing zines, the zines lead to working with bands I loved, that lead to editorial work and then I made the jump into advertising. I've spent years in advertising and this year am running Middle Boop as an art direction and branding agency. Now I spend my time travelling the world doing talks at festivals, working with Adobe and D&AD. It's not bad is it?

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

Well, my aesthetic has definitely changed over the years but one underlying factor has always run through my work and that's been a bold use of colour. That was the one thing when I was still developing a style and voice that I realized people were really drawn to so I've always worked on that basis as a core. Then really the aesthetic can differ between different projects, so can be more photography led, design, typography focused. Basically whatever the projects needs dictate the aesthetic of the work.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

I don't really have a favourite, my minds always changing on this subject really.

4. What is your artistic process like?

My standard process is to start on paper, sketch everything out, get the concept and idea down properly, then depending on what the project is, either work out the shoot, head straight to the computer and work out the composition, then through a few rounds of changes and tweaks, clean the piece up for the final application.

5. Who and/or what inspires your work?

I'm inspired by all sorts of things, general life really. I think my biggest ideas always come from when I'm not actually at the desk, the best ideas come from when you're switched off. In the shower, just waking up, just going to bed. So yeah, just normal life is my inspiration really.

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

Art has completely changed my life, without it I wouldn't be doing anything.

7. Where did you study?

I was really lucky, in my home town we had a great art college. I wasn't doing very well in school and had a long commute to that school but somehow managed to blag my way into doing a foundation course at the college and that started it all. Then I went to Solent University....Less said about that the better.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years? Working in an agency?

In five years I would love to be running Middle Boop as an established branding, art direction and design agency. I'm putting the ground work in now to really develop the way I do work and the work that I get in, so hopefully, in five years I'll be doing that nicely.

9. What about in ten?

Definitely owning a vineyard either in France or California haha.

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

If I can use my art to make a difference, make some change socially, then that would be the greatest achievement. But really, to just carry on creating great work, whether it's an ad, building a brand, an album cover, as long as the work is always a high benchmark of quality and I carry on to get recognised for that, then that's good for me.

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

Ramen

12. Favourite book?

Kafka on the Shore - Murakami

13. Favourite genre of music?

I don't have a favourite. I'm into loads, Nigerian Psychedelic Dancehall, No Wave, New Wave, Drone. It's all good.

14. What are your hobbies?

Well I'm a long suffering Crystal Palace fan, so am pretty obsessed with those dudes. I'm also well into boxing at the moment.

15. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?

A virgin.