Knicks: An Interview With Graphic Artist Elliot Gerard
What is your background in graphic design?
Elliot Gerard: I sort of fell into it. Coming out of college, I was working in the theater and film industries. I wanted to be a director, but I ended up making posters and other promotional materials for directors instead. I really enjoyed it, so I ended up getting my Masters in Design from The Pratt Institute.
In terms of my background in sports illustration/design, all started with SNY’s The Knicks Blog. I created some Jeremy Lin illustrations and a graphic making fun of the big three in Miami (Did a parody of Three’s Company featuring LeBron as Jack Tripper, and Wade and Bosh as Chrissy and Janet). SNY featured these illustrations, they ended up getting reposted on other sports blogs including Doublescribble.com.
ESPN saw my illustrations on that site and reached out to me about creating graphics for them. Then it all started rolling.
What are your most memorable Knicks related experiences?
EG: Two come to mind, with one as fan and the other as a designer.
My friend had amazing seats to the ’97 playoffs against the Miami Heat. I was lucky enough to be sitting with him under the basket when Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson started fighting, and Jeff Van Gundy started fighting and grabbed Morning’s leg. I had never sat that close before and it was crazy this was happening feet away from me. It was a great game, and then the next morning, I walk into school and my teacher says, “Hey Elliot, I saw you in the paper.” He showed me the newspaper and there I was in my Charles Oakley jersey on the front page of the New York Times sports section. Still have that picture framed at my parents house.
As a designer, I created these “I Melo NY” and “I Phil NY” shirts with a company called Swag Squared, and they were getting popular and even got some press. Just as we started selling, we get a cease and desist letter from the “I Heart NY” owners. Although we couldn’t sell anymore, the shirts that we had left became great promotional pieces. You’ll still see members of the media and New York Knicks employees including one of my favorite Knicks, John Starks, rocking them around the Garden.
Next: Extraordinary Opportunities