Interview with illustrator Jack Tierney
Jack Tierney is a Brisbane-based graphic designer and illustrator. With his distinct grungy, illustrative style, it’s not surprising that Jack’s folio features a large collection of band posters and album covers for local bands.
Jack’s creativity is largely influenced by music and more specifically, music that’s definitely not from a commercial radio station. So really, Jack was honoured to rebrand Brisbane’s independent FM radio station, 4ZZZ. In the last couple of years, Jack’s impressive graphics for 4ZZZ have taken their gigs and promotions to another level.
Listen To The Graphics is the perfect title for Jack’s music-based design work, which he started as a way to design gig posters for local bands. Since starting this project, he’s worked nationally with record labels, bands, radio stations, charities, and theatre productions on posters, press, logos, album art, and merchandise.
Jack’s also been a part of the fantastic local project, Made in the Now, and the exhIbitions Stop flooding my record collection, May 2011, and Queenslake, March 2011. His work has also been published in SLAM Skateboarding Magazine and the 2011 Semi-Permanent Book.
If you’re in Brisbane and need a designer for your studio or agency, please contact Jack, as he’s currently looking for a new creative role. Contact Jack via his website or pop over to see more of his work on the Listen to the Graphics Facebook page.
How have you got to where you are today?
I’ve always loved to draw. Art and music were the only subjects I did any good at in High School. For my Year 12 final art project I documented a party weekend with me and my mates as large uncensored comic strip (some parents were a little shocked).
From there I did a Design Fundamentals course, which got me really interested in Graphic Design but I chose to focus on illustration and studied animation here in Brisbane. As you do though I got the travel bug and moved to Canada and worked unrelated jobs for a year.
When I got back I was craving something creative so I did a Graphic Design course at CATC and got my first job as a graphic designer from the work experience I did through the course.
In a few words, describe yourself…
I like to think I’m friendly and diplomatic. I love art, music and design. I hate ignorance and can’t stand commercial radio. I also add Tabasco sauce to almost everything I eat.
What are you spending your time on at the moment?
At the moment I’m working on a series of decks for a Sydney skateboard company, a really exciting 4ZZZ project that will come out later in the year and some new business branding.
Do you have a ritual for getting into the creative mindset? Or a creative process?
Depending on the job it usually starts with a lot of scribbles in an A3 sketchbook. Always music on, if it’s work for a band I like to listen to them, otherwise The Herd or De La Soul usually get me somewhere. Then I always like to sleep on it!
What or who inspires you?
I get inspiration from all sorts of places – Good music. Artists like Anthony Lister, Andrew Pommier, WBYK and Andy Jenkins all do really amazing work. I’ve worked with some really talented art directors who have really inspired me as well.
I also get a lot of inspiration from my family, my dad is an awesome artist, I love seeing his stuff. My cousin is an amazing designer/illustrator and my brother is an amazing singer/songwriter, hearing and seeing him do his thing gets me inspired to do my thing.
What are you most proud of?
I had the privilege of designing the new 4ZZZ logo a while ago, they are a Brisbane music institution and have been around for 35 years so it was a big responsibility.
I really love seeing it out there now with a life of it’s own. It’s a simple logo but I really like it.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
First was NBA star, then professional skater, then famous rock star.
