Tell me more about your design role.
I’m an Active Designer at Blowfish Malibu, which means I specifically focus on sneakers. In other words, I typically spend more time working with canvas materials and all of our amazing canvas prints. I travel to one side of the world for inspiration then head to another side to make it all come to life. Also, my title doesn’t stop at design. I’m also an Active Developer as well. So I spend a decent portion of my time picking colors, materials and bringing the shoes together for Blowfish Malibu’s final product.
When did you first become interested in designing?
I think I’ve always had a bit of designer in me. I’ve always excelled quickly in design, whether it be fashion design, web design, interior design, I even spent some time designing fishing lures in high school.
What did you do previously before joining the Blowfish Malibu team?
I worked a few odd jobs in college. I worked in an independent retail shoe store in Seattle that focused on orthopedic footwear. This is where I gained a lot of technical knowledge of not just shoes but also the foot. However, my biggest qualification to work for Blowfish Malibu came from my family. My dad has worked in the shoe industry for close to 40 years. I grew up with sneakers scattered around my house since before I could walk. I was able to around travel around the world to see shoes and visit shoe factories since I was seven years old.
How did you get started with Blowfish Malibu?
Jannie Denney took me under her wing as a relatively young designer and taught me everything there is to know about Blowfish Malibu, from creating floral prints to correcting prototypes in the factory. I wouldn’t have achieved most of the success I have working at Blowfish Malibu without her help.
What do you like about the shoe industry?
I love everything about the shoe industry. I love the constant changes day to day and year to year. I love the constant need for innovation. More specifically, I love that the industry is fairly casual. I get to wear a t-shirt and jeans to work every day, be myself and I’m always able to fit in.
What are you most excited for in terms of design?
I’m excited for something different every day I come to work. Right now, I’m most excited for the environmentally friendly movement that’s been growing in the industry.
What inspires you?
I’m inspired by most everything, whether it be shoes, apparel, materials or even the personality of a restaurant I eat at in Europe.
What are your favorite colors and patterns to work with?
There’s no specific color I love working with but rather the way we get our colors. It’s never exact because we dye wash a good portion of our canvas shoes. I love experimenting with different colors and levels of wash to find that perfect tone. My favorite patterns to work with are always the Play, Marley and Fruit. I always push myself to think out of the box when it comes to choosing new materials, prints and dye washes for these three shoes.
Which is your favorite pair of shoes you have designed?
My favorite is the Koala. It’s got a nice mix of my own personal style while still fitting in with the personality of Blowfish.
Find out more about our designers here!