While you may not know him, you absolutely, without a doubt, know his work. Aaron Draplin is snowboarding’s most eccentric designer. Born in Detroit in 1973, Draplin made the ultimate move to Bend, Oregon at the ripe age of 19. It was in Bend, that Draplin first launched his career as a graphic designer while working for Solid Snowboards. From there his career took off like wildfire. In fact, Draplin not only designed Snowboard Magazine’s classic snowflake logo, but he designed cover layouts and did the large majority of Snowboard Magazine’s design work throughout the magazine’s early years. This week for Provisions we decided to give some love to our friend, and dive deep into Aaron’s design world. Below you will find five of our favorite products tied to Draplin, however as there is no way to showcase anywhere close to his full portfolio, we suggest you make sure to check back later this week for our exclusive interview with Aaron. And as always don’t forget to check out the The 2017 Product Collection or 2017 Interactive Brand Guides while you’re at it. Spring savings are currently under way and there is no better time than now to dial in your kit.
Pretty Much Everything – Draplin Design Co. Book
Everything you need to know about graphic design, from the man that literally wrote the book on the new school of graphic design. Aaron Draplin has worked with one of the most eclectic client lists of anyone involved in the snowboarding industry, including everyone from Burton Snowboards, to the Obama Administration, Esquire, the 2010 Space Shuttle Redesign, and more. Dive into Aaron’s world and get the behind-the-scenes story on some of his most well known designs in his 2016 book, “Pretty Much Everything”. Chock full of design progress sketches, comical stories, and pointed advice, “Pretty Much Everything” is a must have for the budding graphic artist.
Black Ice Field Notes
That random idea you had the other day? Better start writing them down. Inspired by the promotional memo books that were distributed to American farmers by agricultural companies throughout the first half of the 20th century, Field Notes is both a nod to the past, and an eager beckon towards the future. While the original Field Notes memo book came in packages of three graph-ruled booklets wrapped with a thick “kraft” brown cover, the brand has since seen dozens of redesigns and limited edition releases. The Field Notes Black Ice limited edition memo book seen here is the first-ever edition of Field Notes to not only come without staples, but to also feature a silvery-black metallic foil and quintessential DDC-orange spine.
Union Ultra Bindings
The Snowboard Magazine snowflake logo isn’t the only classic design still in regular use since Draplin’s early days. In 2004 shortly after Aaron launched Draplin Design Co., he released the very first Union Binding Company logo. Now 13 years later, the Union Binding Co logo is one of the most widely recognized in the snowboard industry. Pick up a pair of Union Ultras and sleep easy knowing that not only are you backing a standout company and designer, but that snowboarding legends Gigi Ruff and Bryan Iguchi helped design, and stand by the Union Ultra as their binding of choice.
Coal The Provo Cap
Celebrate longevity while keeping things fresh in this microfiber 5 panel from Coal Headwear. Outfitted with the original Coal Headwear logo that Draplin designed in 2002, this moisture wicking 5 panel features mesh sides to ensure you stay cool when life heats up. The Provo comes in four different colorways, so you know that there is a style for everyone. If you’re a fan of Draplin and Coal, keep your eyes peeled, his designs are still part of the yearly rotation.
NIKE SB ZOOM Stefan Janoski
Nike SB changed the direction of skate shoes forever in 2009 when the first edition of the Stefan Janoski signature shoe was released with the help from Aaron Draplin. While he didn’t design the shoe, he definitely put together the now-classic logo design. The low-profile shoe combined premium performance with a minimalist aesthetic and became an instant hit, prompting Nike to now offer over 41 different variations of the shoe eight years later.
