Jedidiah Rogers is a jack of many trades who calls Austin, Texas his home. ATX is where I originally met Jed, but we got to know each other during his time spent living in NYC, where he interned for a graphic design firm. Every time we rode or hung out together Jed seemed really excited about the work he was doing, but I could tell his heart belonged in the Lone Star State. He eventually moved back home, but before he left, he was dubbed the "Stand up Guy". I couldn't think of a better nickname for Jed, as he has survived a slew of personal hardships, including a battle with testicular cancer, but always came out with a huge smile on his face. Jed continues to work hard at whatever he does and recently completed a design portfolio site for himself. He agreed to share some recent work from one of his favorite clients. Read on for some first-hand insight from the stand up guy himself, Jed Rogers, and don't forget to check out his new site at
jedrogersdesign.com.
How's it going Jed? What's new?
Things are going pretty well. I won't get into the details, but the last couple of years have been pretty crazy. I experienced the worst feelings ever, some of the best feelings ever, and experienced the importance of honesty with friends and family. I've also realized that life needs to be a balance of work and play—too much of either can become quite demotivating.
When are you moving back to NYC? We miss you.
Aww, thanks man. I do miss NYC, Brooklyn, Keyko & crew, the Brooklyn banks, and pedaling over the Williamsburg Bridge. I also really miss the work I engulfed myself in while I was there. Life there is pretty nuts—everything is full blast. You work a lot and very hard, then you party a lot and really F'ing hard. I definitely enjoyed that lifestyle, but decided that I'd like to live at a slightly more relaxed pace.
What sparked the fire to build a new website for yourself?
Getting my website up has been on the To Do List for quite some time, but it was moved to the top once I was laid off from my most recent graphic design job. We (the studio) braved this dark economic storm for quite some time before two of us were let go. So now I'm hunting down clients and firms that share a similar look on life and design that I do.
How did you get into graphic design in the first place?
A fellow BMXer, Aron Hoag, was getting his graphic design degree while I was getting my photography degree. After graduation, I moved to the east coast and quickly realized that I enjoyed shooting photos just for the sake of shooting, but not to make a living. It felt like a huge weight had been placed on something that, until that point, had only been a passionate hobby of mine. I was interested in the work that Aron did, so I got some advice from him, moved back to Texas and enrolled in what turned out to be a very well respected Communication Design program at Texas State University.
Who are some of your influences design-wise?
Wow, that's a tough one. Specifically, they would be Caleb Everitt (whom I taught everything he knows, haha), Christian Helms, David Kampa, Rex Peteet, Steve Sandstrom, and everyone that I've worked closely with at all my internships and jobs. However, there is a lot of amazing work, old and new, out there that I constantly run across and throw into my inspiration folder on my computer.
Who is your favorite client that you have done work for?
Beat the Clock Bike Messengers. It's almost like I'm a part owner of the company sometimes. It's a great feeling to be that much into one of your clients and the decisions they make as a business. I'd love to see them succeed and take advantage of the growing pains of downtown Austin.
Do you have a design routine that you usually follow?
It really depends on the project, but I usually sketch a lot before I get on the computer. Learning as much as possible about your client and their market is a must. I think that's another aspect of design that I like so much—becoming an “expert” about a lot of different fields.
Favorite typeface?
Currently, I've really been into the Din family. Din Black is pretty sweet. I recently went through a Neutraface phase, though.
Favorite website, book, and magazine?
For websites, FFFFound.com for inspiration and underconsideration.com/brandnew/ for trends and what NOT to do. Life of Pi still has a close place to my heart. I love design annuals, old and new, and the regional annuals that Print puts out are always really good.
Do you do any BMX related design work?
I haven't in quite some time. Caleb seems to have snatched up a lot of the good clients. His aesthetic design fits quite well with the best BMX companies. I'm more of a branding guy, I guess.
Describe an average day in the life of Jedidiah Rogers.
An average day would go like this: Wake up, eat, stretch, ride bikes, stretch, shower, eat, design, eat, design, go out, eat, design, then sleep.
If you could wake up, walk outside and see one thing, everyday, for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I'm a hopeless romantic, so the answer to this question would be to see the rising sun with a beautiful, loving woman every morning for the rest of my life.
Your photography has been featured in some of BMX's finest magazines, do you still shoot BMX photos?
I actually haven't shot any BMX in a while, but sometimes I'll come up with an experiment and Hanson Little is usually my Guinea Pig.
What do you think of the overall image of BMX at the moment?
I think the overall image of BMX is that it's gained enough support from parents and businesses that it's become a “household sport”. When the Chinese government decides to build a massive skate and BMX facility, that means we're probably going to see Freestyle BMX and Skateboarding in the Olympics soon. Did any of us ever think that would happen?
What are some of your other interests or pastimes?
I started racing road bikes a couple of years ago and it has really been an amazing experience. It's been very rewarding to stick to a training schedule for months and reap the benefits of it at the races.
Name one goal you would like to accomplish in the next year.
I'd like to look back in a year and feel like I made some decent business decisions and that I began a successful design business for myself.
Last words?
I'd like to thank a lot of my closest friends for letting me lean on them in the last couple of years: Hanson Little, Caleb Everitt, Walter Pieringer, Jordan Hufnagel, John Trujillo, Joseph LaFico, Joseph Blalock, Tom & Tina Williams, Kate Sherwin, my family, and my Mom in particular. Oh, and thanks to you, Brian, for inviting me to ramble on about design and bikes.
Bonus shot from Jed's summer 09 vacation to NY. Photo by Barnhart
