Stealworks

Stealworks has been my nom de plum since I decided I wanted a pseudonym to design under back in 1990. I’d been creating graphics for myself, various bands, and for Alternative Tentacles Records for a while prior to establishing a “company” name, but operating under my given name didn’t appeal to me at the time. So, for better or worse, Stealworks it was.

When I did my other creative projects—Allied Recordings and Punchline zine—I often produced T-shirts to accompany them. I’d print them in small numbers, and when they sold out they were gone (I don’t even have copies of practically all of those I did, more’s the pity). So, when Charles (Bifocal Media) approached me and asked if I would be interested in doing a Stealworks shirt design, I jumped at the opportunity.

As with a lot of my work, it’s very referential to design aesthetics of the past, particularly industrial design of the forties, fifties, and sixties. I’m not sure what the attraction is—whether it’s the typography, the minimalist use of color, the language of industry, or the simplicity of design—I just knew that when I sat down to design this “company” shirt, it needed to reflect that. You may be the judge as to whether or not I succeeded or not.

What’s in a name? Ideally, a reference to what you get. It’s no secret that a great deal of my work is referential, bordering on straight up rip-off. I don’t try to hide that fact. I’m a very good mimic. Am I creative by association in that sense? Again, a question for the audience. That being said, I like to think that I put my own spin on things, my own little stamp of uniqueness that enables me to sleep at night, but is that just wishful thinking? You tell me. Or better still, buy a shirt. Or hire me for a freelance gig—heaven knows I’m employable now?

Thanks.—John Yates

LIMITED TO 100. Unisex sizes printed on American Apparel 1301 apparel. Ladies’ sizes printed on BellaCanvas Ladies apparel. LADIES’ SIZES RUN REALLY SMALL. Check the size chart.