Designer Q&A: Alex Boland

Creative Director Alex working at his office desk
02.20.2023 – People

BMD's Creative Director, Alex Boland, talks about his side hustle and what it means to let ideas go.

If you weren’t in your current industry, what would you be doing?

 

Probably something to do with cars. The first Fast & Furious movie had way too big of an impact on me as a kid, and I’ve been fascinated with anything on four wheels ever since.

 

Even to this day, I draw a lot of inspiration for my design work from the automotive world. It’s fine art, sculpture, experiential design, sound design, branding, storytelling, curves, color, community (I could go on…), all wrapped up in about two tons of pure joy.

 

The fact that some of the artists, designers, and brands that I look up to the most have used the car as a canvas for their work also speaks volumes about its impact: Andy Warhol, Jenny Holzer, Alexander Calder, Virgil Abloh, John Baldessari, Sean Wotherspoon, Damien Hirst, L’ART, Daniel Arsham, Tyler The Creator, Virgil Abloh… the list is endless. And I want to be on it.

Vin Diesel and Paul Walker looking out of the convertible
“(...) most of our ideas die. Sometimes it’s at the hand of a client, sometimes a colleague, sometimes it’s even ourselves.”

What are you most excited about right now?

 

 

What has been really exciting for the past few years is building a brand from scratch with a few close friends.

 

Crawler is a blended spirit seltzer company that has been my no-rules design muse after work hours. The most exciting thing about it is the freedom of exploration I have as the sole design lead. No briefs, no clients, no “make-the-logo-bigger” (although we did end up going with the biggest possible logo that would fit on our can). It’s weird and fun and, at times, a grind, but my constant aim is to design things that put a smile on my face. And they always do.

 

P.S. – Be on the lookout for Crawler Citrus hitting LCBO shelves in the spring.

A horizontally smashed can of Crawler Citrus topped with a grapefruit slice

Looking back at it all, what have been the biggest challenges and setbacks for you?

 

My biggest challenge as I progressed throughout my design career was coming to grips with the fact that most of our ideas die. Sometimes it’s at the hand of a client, sometimes a colleague, sometimes it’s even ourselves.

 

But the turning point for me was recognizing that I shouldn’t cling to my work or tinker with it until it was “perfect”. I should share it, have people pick it apart, send it out into the world and see what happens, receiving any and all feedback with open arms. That’s how we collectively get to better work, and it’s an essential part of how good designers become great designers.

 

Ideas are free. Use as many as you want. And if that one doesn’t pan out, remember that there’s always another one right around the proverbial corner.

 

Oh, and public speaking. Still working on that…

Neon sign on a black wall

Next Article

BMD Data Visualization Hackathon

Two local creatives laughing while creating paper-based crafts
Two local creatives laughing while creating paper-based crafts Art work created by creatives at the Data Visualization Hackathon posted on a black board at BMD Instructional Person tracing the rim of a glass cup on a piece of paper BMD and the community gathered for a hands-on, computer-free, cut-and-paste workshop for designers BMD and the community gathered for a hands-on, computer-free, cut-and-paste workshop for designers Person drawing at a high top table Person standing in front of a tall orange bulletin board Person highlighting the Instructional Desk covered with scrapbooking items, a plate of snacks and glasses of water Person highlighting the Instructional Person standing in front of a tall orange bulletin board Instructional Desk covered in scrapbooking items Black and white image of a desk and shelves covered in stationery Two local creatives laughing while creating paper-based crafts Art work created by creatives at the Data Visualization Hackathon posted on a black board at BMD Instructional Person tracing the rim of a glass cup on a piece of paper BMD and the community gathered for a hands-on, computer-free, cut-and-paste workshop for designers BMD and the community gathered for a hands-on, computer-free, cut-and-paste workshop for designers Person drawing at a high top table Person standing in front of a tall orange bulletin board Person highlighting the Instructional Desk covered with scrapbooking items, a plate of snacks and glasses of water Person highlighting the Instructional Person standing in front of a tall orange bulletin board Instructional Desk covered in scrapbooking items Black and white image of a desk and shelves covered in stationery Two local creatives laughing while creating paper-based crafts Art work created by creatives at the Data Visualization Hackathon posted on a black board at BMD Instructional Person tracing the rim of a glass cup on a piece of paper BMD and the community gathered for a hands-on, computer-free, cut-and-paste workshop for designers BMD and the community gathered for a hands-on, computer-free, cut-and-paste workshop for designers Person drawing at a high top table Person standing in front of a tall orange bulletin board Person highlighting the Instructional Desk covered with scrapbooking items, a plate of snacks and glasses of water Person highlighting the Instructional Person standing in front of a tall orange bulletin board Instructional Desk covered in scrapbooking items Black and white image of a desk and shelves covered in stationery Two local creatives laughing while creating paper-based crafts Art work created by creatives at the Data Visualization Hackathon posted on a black board at BMD Instructional Person tracing the rim of a glass cup on a piece of paper BMD and the community gathered for a hands-on, computer-free, cut-and-paste workshop for designers BMD and the community gathered for a hands-on, computer-free, cut-and-paste workshop for designers Person drawing at a high top table Person standing in front of a tall orange bulletin board Person highlighting the Instructional Desk covered with scrapbooking items, a plate of snacks and glasses of water Person highlighting the Instructional Person standing in front of a tall orange bulletin board Instructional Desk covered in scrapbooking items Black and white image of a desk and shelves covered in stationery