Good Morning! This is Steve Mayer, the guy behind the Bird Dog Bay brand. Frequently, the question I’m asked to field most when chatting with fans is “What’s your inspiration for your designs?” After years of our marketing manager hammering me to write a weekly blog describing my illustrations and the stories behind them, I’m now waving my white flag. Every week, I’ll provide fans with a bit of a glimpse into the hundred or so designs I create each year. I’m known among friends to be a bit of an embellished story teller, so bear with me: short and sweet is not the Mayer way! Anyway, I hope you find it interesting as the rest of my team thinks you will enjoy it…

BIRDS & THE BEES
Design #285 – portfolio entry #2

When launching Bird Dog Bay, I drew a similar design in my very first collection called “The Birds and the Bees.” It was one of my better executed designs in the line: small images arranged in a step and repeat pattern that paired well visually for a fun, whimsical image. At the time, a few publications featured it as a clever Valentine’s Day gift, though that wasn’t my intention. When that happened, however, I realized I needed to work to expand my portfolio to appeal to a wider range. Essentially, I didn’t want new or hopeful fans to pigeonhole the brand as “the company that makes ‘x’ ties.” All my designs those first few years were carefully plotted; nowadays, I can draw Santa blasting ducks in his powerboat, but in the beginning I made a concentrated effort to throw the biggest visual net I could when I put pencil to paper.

As I began work on Spring 2015’s current collection, I came across my initial ballpoint sketch in my design file. Composed on a cocktail napkin from The Red Lion Bar & Grill in Vail, CO, I had to have been sitting at the bar in the late-90’s, trying to impress some young gal with my illustration skills as I waited for Phil Long’s famous late night cover set. Obviously, I failed to woo, considering I’m still sitting on the evidence, and I’m sure my friends took the mick out of me and my terrible closing game. On the flip side, however, my lousy pick-up evolves into a creative win for Bird Dog Bay. Glass half full?