Dan Mumford: T-Shirt Designer - Graphic Designer - Illustrator Interview

London, England -- Dan Mumford is a freelance illustrator, t-shirt designer and screen printer working out of Studio100 in central London, Kingsland road, and screen print studio in Dalston.

Dan spent some time answering some questions we had for him, pertaining to his life and design style.

Here's what he had to say...

When did you start creating art?

I started drawing from a young age, I always liked comics and so forth, and so from the age of 10 upwards I was always creating things and drawing stuff.

Was there a point when you began to take art more seriously?

Yeah definitely, when I went to university at 18, that was when it became a real prospect for a career, and I went straight into freelance work after university at 22.

How would you best describe your style?

I would describe it as detailed and intense, but at the same time carefully produced.

At what age did you develop this style?

At university is when I started to create work in the style I now do.

Who or what are your artistic influences?

I try not to take too much influence from other artists, but I have always like Alfons Mucha a lot, I think you can see that in some of my work. Other than that I look to movies and comics quite a lot for inspiration.

When did you start designing t-shirts?

It started at university as well, it was just a way to help out friends in bands and also make a bit of money on the side.

Do you look at this type of art as business or just a hobby?

This is 100% a business now; I rely on the income from what I do. Which is a shame as it can take out some of the enjoyment from it, but it's nice to do this as a job.

Do you have any business experience?

Only experience learned from the last 5 years or so working on my own, best way to learn.

Have you ever been ripped off? If so, was it subtle or obvious?

Do you mean by other artists? Yeah I have, quite a bit. But it’s nearly always by artists that are starting out, looking to artists that have been around in the area of work I do for longer (music based/alternative art etc). And it's sort of a case of taking inspiration a bit too far I think. I don't get too annoyed about it, it's better to take it as flattering and let it lie; saying that…I would obviously rather it wasn't something that happened.

Is there any particular design you are most proud of?

All the Gallows pieces I did about 4 years ago for their album and singles are the ones that kind of started me off on this career, so I guess they are the ones I am most proud of.

Is there a design that you didn't like, but received high acclaim?

The piece I did for A Day to Remember was a troubling creation, I won't go in to details but it was stressful to do for various reasons and I ended up not enjoying the process. Let's just say deadline was around the 27th December, not a great time to need final artwork by. Saying all that though, people loved the artwork and it received a lot of love…and looking at it now, it's a cool piece and I'm happy with how it turned out and happy I got a chance to do something for the band.

Do you have any formal training or schooling?

Yeah, three years at university of Brighton where I did Illustration.

What motivates you in life?

My family, Girlfriend and friends. I'm not a super motivated guy, I just do what I do because I enjoy it. But I would love to be able to make a living from just creating art for art's sake and not to pay the bills...that's perhaps the overall aim moving forward.

Are you single, married, or have a significant other?

I have a significant other who is very supportive in my art based endeavors!

Do you have a preference for screen printing or DTG (Direct-To-Garment) printing?

Screen-printing is something I trained in, so always my preference. But DTG is great for the quickness and ease.

Mac vs. PC?

Mac all the way…honestly...as far as work goes I have no idea how people use PC's.

Favorite clothing brand?

Miles to Go, as they do some really nice and thought provoking pieces, and Greg is a real nice guy too.

Do you engage in physical activity (work out, yoga, martial arts)?

I try and go swimming for a good half hour every morning during the week, I broke my collarbone earlier in the year, so it's a good way to keep fit and also gets my arm working properly again.

Are you a fan of any sports?

Not really. I will happily watch any sport… but I am at a loss as to why people put so much love into certain teams, it's something that never clicked with me.

Do you cook?

Of course, gotta eat.

Are you a vegetarian or vegan?

Nope, meat man all the way.

What languages do you speak?

I can speak the smallest amount of French.

Do you play any instruments?

I play bass in my band Landis.

Who are your favorite music artists?

I like Meshuggah, Shai Hulud, Cinematic Orchestra and Boards of Canada.

Do you have any favorite TV shows?

Community, Breaking Bad and Seinfeld.

What is your preferred method of transportation (motorcycles, bicycle, car, or walk)?

Walk/bus... no way I will get on a bike in London, I have no death wish.