Rajasaurusrex

frequently asked questions

What does Rajasaurusrex mean?

Since I was a kid I have always loved dinosaurs. I started using this alias as my email and gamertag not long after college. Upon research into starting a business, I discovered that the Rajasaurus was an actual dinosaur whose fossils were found in India! Being of Indian descent myself, I thought this was pretty cool. And though I was told early on that a business with such a "difficult" name would not get far, I had a feeling that something about it would connect with other dinosaur lovers. And I mean, who doesn't love dinosaurs?

What does the shark logo represent?

I respect and admire sharks because they have been around since the time of the dinosaurs and, among very few other descended species, have changed relatively little since then. Which, in terms of evolutionary adaptation, means they got it right the first time, while the rest of us all went though fur and scales and skin.

As an artist, I try to emulate this concept through my creative process by keeping revisions to a minimum and working as efficiently as possible. Even through the inevitable periods of trial and error, I take great care to deliver only the best results in the shortest amount of time.

What kind of shark is it and why?

I'd like to introduce you to Rosco the bull shark. I drew this little shark in a sketchbook in 2010 and the name just popped into my mind, so he became a sort of mascot for the early stages of my artistic branding. Having been in a visual development class at the time, I knew that everything drawn comes with a story, and little Rosco's was only beginning. Through the process of developing his character, I realized that I was dealing with a bull shark. They aren't afraid of anything and will swim through salt, fresh, brackish and even super shallow water! I have a feeling that the concept for Rosco subconsciously came from the extrovert side of me that has always wanted to shine. I might be a leo, but have always been pretty shy. Throughout the process of allowing this little character to grow, I discovered in myself a fierce curiosity to challenge my own limits and grow out of my fishbowl. And so this brand was born.

What made you want to start a brand?

Corporate graphic design has its charms, though taking up pottery has made me realize an urge to get back to my roots and draw more. But what use are illustrations that sit around in a closet or on a hard drive all the time? People aren't always looking for that several thousand dollar original for their fancy living room centerpiece (if you are though, let me know). So I needed to create an outlet for them that would soon justify spending 30+ hours on another traditionally-made piece. Something that would grant enough mileage to a single piece that would make it sustainable for me to create them. Art is what I love to do, but I also need to eat. I'm discovering that it's very possible to do both, it's just takes a lot of work.

What concepts drive your inspiration?

I would have to say the main driver behind my work is the environment. This earth is our only home, and if we don't take care of it, who are we to call ourselves its inhabitants? My goal is to renew this emotional love for our planet through imagery that targets the heart. Vibrant colors and abstract natural shapes speak to a primal part of our brain that is directly tied to the energy of our planet. If we can work together to clean up the mess of our predecessors, we might just be able to prove our worth as a species.

I also take great pride in my country and the values on which it was founded. For example, this is the reason I won't put the flag on a skate deck even though it would look super dope. Something just doesn't sit right about getting it all scratched up. Patriotism, and I don't mean the kind that produces violence and hate, goes beyond the concept of family and community. I'm talking about what it means to be American. To me, it means adapting. Growing and learning. Surviving against odds and just doing your best everyday. Our only comparison should be who we were yesterday, so why do we keep fighting each other? By bettering ourselves, we better our community and therefore the environment which ties right back into my first point.

Why the rainforest image?

The deck is actually what's really important here. It's symbolic of your safe place in terms of personal growth, a solidly structured surface on which you can firmly ground yourself. What's beyond that edge could be anything. Are you brave enough to find out?

To be honest, I wanted to license this image in particular because it provided exactly the right amount of atmosphere I needed in various areas of my branding. For example, the light upper canopy area creates a sense of wonder when the right and center brochure panels are aligned, but when you begin to unfold to read the mission statement, it's as if the screen fades darker to setup a mood before diving inside. It also has the right contrast of green to brown, in the form of tree leaves and processed lumber respectively. The trees' past and present juxtaposed here seem to represent the raw potential of the unknown being transformed to build the deck's earned layers, hardened by experience and time. Also it's pretty.

What are you doing for the environment?

I have been constantly discarding unnecessary plastic packaging all my life. This eventually lead me down a path of replacing household items where I could little by little. It started with glass and stainless steel water bottles, replacing cleaning equipment with refillable bottles and large stock jugs of eco-friendly cleaner fluid. So when I started this brand, a huge driver behind my choices included options that would be 100% recyclable. Starting out on limited funds obviously didn't make this possible right away, but it is a goal I am continually striving to achieve. The apparel tubes make great containers for plants, tools, snacks and so much more. The shipping boxes I plan to order soon come from a company that uses eco-friendly materials, and even go as far as to plant a tree with every order! There are still areas I know I can improve, but as long as I keep upgrading little by little, I might inspire others in some small way to do the same.

Your work is so varied, what is your background?

I was trained as an illustrator, but have since found a calling for graphic design. When I graduated it was very difficult to find work as an illustrator when stock image websites have so much content variation and convenience. So I instead began designing logos and branding businesses, making entire suites of correlating pieces, occasionally using those same stock sites to supplement the illustrative accents I no longer had the time to create myself.

Where did you go to school?

I attended Ringling College of Art and Design from 2007 to 2011, graduating with a Bachelors of Fine Art in Illustration, minoring in Visual Development and exploring an introduction to Graphic Design. Little did I realize at the time, I was creating the mental foundation on which I would later develop an entire brand around my artistic style using all of these varied tools.

see resume / under construction

What design services do you provide?

I like to specialize in print design because I love seeing a piece transform from its digital concept to a physically tangible object. My favorite part about print material is how digital colors and layouts come to life through liquid ink on different material textures. Like.. business cards garnished in foil on some really nice card stock. Or crisp images on thick vinyl, eight-foot tall banners that I've been staring at virtually on a screen at a fraction of their size. Lately I have been dabbling in web design and social media layouts. This site is just one of a few projects that have helped wrap my brain around both designing for the digital world, and how we interact with virtual spaces.

read more about design services

Do you have a portfolio of past work?

Yes! You can find the link to my current project archive here.

project portolio

I don't have social media. Where else can I follow your content?

Before I had social media, I updated my blog weekly with some personal projects and preliminary design content. It's since been somewhat neglected but I am making more of an effort to update this long lost corner of the internet for those who do not have social media apps or wish to receive emailed content.

blog

What's your favorite medium to work in?

I honestly can't decide. I also get bored quickly so I need to switch things up and work on multiple kinds of projects at once. Digital illustration can be hard on the eyes, traditional illustration on the hands, neck and lower back. Graphic design requires little physical work but takes a lot out of me mentally. Pottery refills the creative battery but can feel like a workout in itself! I love painting in oils, drawing in pen+ink, and coloring both digitally as well as with traditional media. I've also dabbled in wood-working and welding in the past and found in both my favorite intersection of art + function. I can't really pick one thing even though it's what mentors in the field encourage us to do. So I picked branding as a way to tie all of these areas together under the same message. Have my cake and eat it to, so to speak.

browse artwork

How long have you been working in ceramics?

Early 2018 I took my first pottery class and immediately fell in love with clay as a medium. It jump-started my creative battery that had been sitting dormant under all the years of corporate branding work. So many layers of rules and restrictions (which I do love), shattered by the playful freedom that clay had to offer. It was refreshing, revitalizing and breathable. I woke up and realized that I could create again. That's actually what inspired me to take this new hobby and turn it into something that could sustain itself among other things.

browse handmade

Where do you fire your pieces? Are you part of a studio?

Yes! I am a part of the Flamingo Clay Gallery & Studio, a lovely local spot in eclectic downtown Lake Worth, FL. with 24-hour access to wheels, worktables and kilns. This nonprofit's growing community of members offers a wealth of creative energy that seems to flow throughout the building itself. Some artists offer classes, others companionship. And as a co-op, everyone cooperates to keep the space clean and safe for each other to work. Members can even sell their works in the attached gallery! Come check out the place for yourself!

visit flamingoclaystudio.org

Where can I see your work in person? Do you have a physical shop?

The closest I can get to a brick and mortar right now is a vendor booth at live festivals or open-air events. Stay up to date on upcoming events and where to find me by joining the mailing list or following on social media. Browse some photo albums from past events here.

event archive

From where do you source your products?

My apparel is sourced from a local print shop in my hometown, and they get their material from a global network of vendors. Canteens, hats and other branded accessories also share various product vendors around the world. The skatedecks come from a supplier in California who raw material is 100% sourced and processed within the USA. All handmade items are crafted using clay and glaze from domestic suppliers and are physically made as close to home as any of my products get, either literally at my home or the Flamingo Clay Studio in Lake Worth, FL. Any specific item's production trail may be requested at any time.

Have you considered using websites that allow drop-shipping?

While this would be an ideal answer to the problem of ordering and storing product, I still can't find a manufacturer that will attach my logo tag to the seam of each tee, much less in the way I designed it. As of right now, only an authentic Rajasaurusrex apparel product will have the signature red and white logotag handsewn by yours truly. If you see any of my products being offered on any other site, it is a fake and you should let me know immediately. The only other places you should find items from my shop are on social media, my blog or previous portfolio sites. Even then, the links will all bring you back here to checkout.

Do you really hand sew every apparel tag?

Yes. It has taken several years to develop a method that is both cost and time efficient. The first few attempts took over an hour a piece. Currently I can average about eight minutes a shirt if I prepare a batch of 10-15 shirt tags to stitch in one session. Collectively, if you add in the time it takes to prepare one label (given that I bulk prep a batch of 20-30 at a time), I spend about 11 minutes with each shirt before rolling it into a belly wrap and securing inside its display tube. If I don't work each step in batches, that number can easily climb to 20+ with interim tasks like heating the iron or re-threading the needle. Every tag is unique, and some will have wider stitching than others.

How long do orders take to ship?

It depends on the contents of your order. Prints and handmade ceramic items are literally within my physical reach while apparel could take up to two weeks to get them ordered, printed and sent out to you. I don't have a lot of space to stock inventory in an apartment, so many of my larger items are made to order, like skatedecks which can take up to 60 days. If your order contains both an item I can send immediately and an item I can't send for more than a couple of weeks, I will reach out to ask if you want single or separate shipments.

What is your pack + ship process like?

Once all items in a customer's order (or partial order if requested) are ready for packaging, together they represent a packing puzzle for which I get to develop a total packing solution. When I think about running my business like playing a videogame, this part is kind of like a fun little minigame.
‍
I have small mailers, big mailers, bubble mailers and boxes.
All stamped and labeled or otherwise branded.
You might get tissue paper, peanuts, crumpled craft wrap or none,
Depending on the needs of each package alone.
I don't like to cut corners, and I'll make sure just for ship,
that your items have a little extra padding equipped.

(I don't know where that came from but I'll leave it). So then I just log into my account with Shippo to print a shipping label, and take it to the same local post office to handoff your package to the same smiling faces. I think they're even starting to recognize me!

Where can I read your privacy policy?

A very important question. I would not be trusted with my customer's payments, newsletter's email addresses or social media follower's attention if I did not respect their privacy or had nefarious usage intentions for their info. At the end of the day, I just want to make people smile so I promise only to conduct myself and my business in ways that honor and respect that goal. Payment details are secured through Stripe and used only to process orders. Addresses are collected through Shippo and used solely for order shipping purposes. Emails are protected within Moosend and users may unsubscribe at any time. Social media followers, who may unfollow at any time, can be sure to expect a carefully curated stream of high quality art content not always so heavily centered on product marketing. Instead the focus of my posts collectively is to paint a general vibe of what it feels like to live in this brand.

A link to the actual policy can be found here.

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