When it comes to bags and backpacks we’ve seen all kinds of patterns and materials used, but nothing that was truly designed with the visual artist in mind.
Sprayground bags, created by David Ben David aka DBD, have revolutionized the market by creating bags that have crisp visual graphics, while some even come with multiple compartments for the artist’s supplies.
PHOTOS: Cool Backpacks For Summer
With bags that have visuals, like stacks of money and creative blank canvases for you to draw on yourself, it’s no wonder that Sprayground has managed to catch on so quickly with the backpack-wearing population.
We got a chance to sit down with DBD and figure out a bit of his thought process behind the Sprayground brand. We also managed to get a few pictures of what’s to come in the accompanying gallery, as well as a few bags to give away to our loyal readers.
Stay tuned to Facebook & Twitter for your chance to win a free Sprayground backpack. Check it all out below!
GlobalGrind: David Ben David, you’re the owner of Sprayground. Tell us a little about yourself!
DBD: I go by DBD for David Ben David. We came out with Sprayground about a year ago, and the concept was to revolutionize the whole bag industry because there is kind of a void in the industry. Bags are just all black or repeat patterns. We had this unique opportunity to kind of do what Swatch did to the Watch industry, or like SkullCandy did to the headphone industry, to kind of revolutionize this new category.
A lot of your bags have spray paint or graffiti inspired artwork on them. Do you have a background of an artist?
Graffiti isn’t really my forte, but I just get inspiration from it. I grew up in Miami, more in the skate and surf scene. I even started to shape my own surfboards and then eventually designing on them, so I just like to call myself a street designer.
Why bags?
It kind of goes with the first response, because of the void in market. All these just wear black bags and it doesn’t match with shoes, it doesn’t really match with their shirt or hat, so now you have this new accessory to fit in your lifestyle.
Do you have a favorite bag of yours?
I would say now, it is the pipe dream one. That’s the one with the colorful smoke.
We saw that you worked with [graffiti artist] Cope on a bag, is there any other artist that you would like to collaborate with in the future?
We’re doing a Sneaktip one. We’re doing Stadj a model DJ and collaboration with Estrada bikes. A bike that’s going to match the bag, very cool limited edition.
When you say limited edition, are you only making like, 100 bags?
Not even, it’s only going to be exclusive. If you buy the bike, you’ll get the bag and that’s it.
How did you end up working with Cope?
My business partner met him at an event one day at a graffiti event downtown. He just bumped into to him, told him about the concept and he was down. He was with it, I mean who doesn’t want to make a bag? And it’s much cooler than a shirt.
Do you plan on expanding into anything else, outside of bags?
Definitely. Hopefully by the Spring or Summer time 2012 I’m going to do some really cool hats, and maybe eventually break out into watches, and then of course, expanding the whole bag category.
What bag were you carrying before Sprayground and why?
I was actually carrying a military bag, no brand. I got it at the Army Surplus store, because a lot of my inspiration is from the Army; like all my family was in the Army.
You’re doing an all black collection. With so many colorful bags going on, why make an all black collection?
I wanted to do something very cool in that market, so I have a lot of unique concepts that will be going on that bag. Also, just to fill that area for the older client, like the past thirty age group. Even though Sprayground is really fun and colorful, it’s really for everyone.
What advice would you give to a young designer coming up in the accessory market?
Just do something different, because there is so much clutter in every category. So if you’re going to do something, do something right and do it smart.
How many bags do you come out with a year?
We do three seasons a year. Spring, Back-to-School and Holiday. But Back-to-School is the biggest, that’s summer time.
Where were you working before you started this up?
I was in a couple things with my business partner, but I went to the School of Visual Arts in New York for graphic and product design and then just hit on this.
