Customer Appreciation Art Contest Grand Prize Winner – Zak Wilson

Jennifer
May 26, 2014

While brainstorming about how to celebrate April’s Customer Appreciation Month, your PsPrint employees realized that all year long, you’re ordering posters, flyers, postcards and more with some amazing design. So we decided a fun contest would be customers submitting their best orders – fun for us, because we got to look at all the great artwork. It was tough to pick just one best piece among the contest entries, but we agreed that the poster by customer Zak Wilson, for which he provided art direction for illustrator Samuel Ho, had it all: amazing artwork, originality and just eye-popping design:

Concept/Art Direction: Zak Wilson. Illustration: Samuel Ho. Image Copyright BS Productions Limited

Concept/Art Direction: Zak Wilson. Illustration: Samuel Ho. Image Copyright BS Productions Limited

  Wilson and Ho first collaborated on a series of posters for the band Goblin last year. “His work really fit the vibe and style I was looking for,” says Wilson, who served as art director, with Ho illustrating. “Turned out not only was he an amazing artist but a cool guy that was easy to work with.” That partnership led to Ho and Wilson working on posters for Black Sabbath, Slayer and Goblin again.
Art Direction: Zak Wilson. Illustration: Samuel Ho

Art Direction: Zak Wilson. Illustration: Samuel Ho

  “When he [Wilson] brought me the opportunity to do a gig piece for Sabbath, how could I say no?” asks Ho. The idea for the PsPrint-winning Black Sabbath poster was to do an updated take on the pilot from the "Never Say Die" album, says Wilson. “I brought the idea and some rough mocks to Samuel, and he nailed the pilot art on the first go-around,” Wilson says. Initially, it was a small-run commemorative poster for Black Sabbath’s show in Irvine, Calif. Afterward, Wilson sent some of the posters to BS Productions, which ended up buying the design from Wilson and Ho – it now represents Black Sabbath’s worldwide 2014 tour and has been printed on posters, tickets, shirts and more. “It's even been bootlegged!” Wilson says. Both Wilson and Ho say they hope to continue working on music-related design projects. “Working for bands I like is the most gratifying,” says Wilson. “Van Halen would top that list. An album cover or concert poster for them would be a check-off on the bucket list.” In the meantime, Wilson – who “logged many years” at Tower Records in Berkeley, making large-format displays and signage to promote new-music releases – keeps a day job at Amoeba Records while also doing graphic design work based in the music industry, particularly in the field of concert posters. Meanwhile, Ho is busy working with ESPN doing editorial illustrations for the NBA and NHL playoffs. He’s also involved in gallery shows and doing some work with Marvel. “He's in very high demand,” Wilson says of Ho. “I always feel lucky and honored when I can work with him on a project.” PsPrint looks forward to seeing what Ho and Wilson collaborate on in the future. “PsPrint makes a quality product for a reasonable price and allows one to order small quantities,” Wilson says. “These three things have been paramount in my creating a large body of work in the concert-poster field.” Take a look at just a sample of posters Wilson has printed at PsPrint:
Art Direction/Design: Zak Wilson. Illustration: Lorenzo Dimauro

Art Direction Design: Zak Wilson. Illustration/Design: David Edward Byrd

 
Art Direction/Design: Zak Wilson. Illustration: Lorenzo Dimauro

Art Direction/Design: Zak Wilson. Illustration: Lorenzo Dimauro

 
Design: Zak Wilson, Mark DeVito

Design: Zak Wilson, Mark DeVito

Jennifer's picture

About Jennifer Moline

Jennifer Moline writes for the PsPrint Blog as well as maintains its Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Plus and Pinterest presences. She also guest-blogs for such notable graphic design blogs as Fuel Your Creativity and Inspiredology. She’s previously written about technology and small business for news websites, magazines and newspapers. In her off-hours, Jennifer can be found roughing it in the mountains or tucked away in a movie theater.

Anonymous's picture
January 07, 2016 03:22 am #

I have a picture you designed of Y & T when they were here in Aug. 2011. It is so amazing. It is an 8X11. I love it so much I wanted to put it up on the wall in our newly opened lounge. Would you be willing to give us a jpg of this with crediting you? Please let me know. Thanks so much!

Sincerely,

Janna
Tower Theatre

Anonymous's picture
January 07, 2016 03:22 am #

Hi Janna, are you looking to get in touch with Zak?

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The PsPrint Blog is a resource for graphic designers, freelancers, small business owners and fans of print marketing. You'll find helpful techniques on printing everything there is to print, including business cards, postcards, brochures, stickers, invitations, greeting cards, door hangers, magnets and more. The PsPrint Blog shares creative ways to improve your design and layout skills, and useful tips for marketing your business in any medium. We also like to have a little fun, sharing design inspiration and spotlighting some our favorite customers' printed pieces in our "Hot Off the Press" series.