“Oasis Skateboard Factory is proud to present a virtual viewing of the class of 2020’s end of semester brand portfolios. Oasis Skateboard Factory is an award-winning alternative high school design program where students earn high school credits by creating their own brand and running a skateboard business / professional design studio. Here is the culmination of the incredible work and creativity of our student over the course of a very unusual semester! Thank you to our community partner Roarockit for helping OSF students set up at-home studios and continue to be makers of skate culture.
Nothing can stop our need to create and skate!”
Roarockit presents the 2020 winner of the OSF Board Builder of the Year Award!!!
Huge congratulations to @monstraskate!
“Hi Alicia,
Each year as you know we award the Boardbuilder Of The Year Award to an Oasis student. This year we have decided that you deserve your name added to this award. Congratulations.
As you know the award is given as an accomplishment to your boardbuilding skills. This year it is also given to you for your willingness in sharing your ideas to with others.
On my numerous trips to Oasis I was impressed by how you freely helped your fellow students, stepped in adding valuable ideas and taking charge while I demonstrated the skateboard process. This I know happens all the time. Good for you.
I know how passionate you are about building boards, experimenting with design shape and graphics. The combination is wonderful. These attributes, skills, and the sharing of ideas will take you far. A teacher perhaps, an artist and a maker of all things is your future Alicia.
I know you will use what you have learned to help others and to make all a better place.
Congratulations.”
Introducing the Oasis Skateboard Factory class of 2020!
Each student was asked to present their work in an image collage of their logo and branded products made this year, along with their brand purpose statement and a reflection on their development during their time at Oasis Skateboard Factory. We are extremely impressed by the quality of the work produced by the OSF students this year. Along with each body of work, we have added feedback from some of the Roarockit team:
- Ted Hunter (Professor at OCADu (retired), Vice-President of Roarockit Skateboard Company, Co-Chair of the Oasis Skateboard Factory Community Council)
- Taryn O’Grady (Industrial Designer and Social Media and Creative Manager at Roarockit Skateboard Company, Industrial Design Graduate of OCADu)
- Jan Sage (Director of Admissions and Recruitment at OCADU (former), Educational Consultant at Roarockit Skateboard Company, Official Gangma at Oasis Skateboard Factory)
MONSTRA
My brand is Monstra, which exists to inspire us to own our inner monsters. This semester I released a new collection called “Monstra Babes” which are pin-up doll monsters and demons. All my branded boards and apparel this semester are “Monstra Babes,” Beginning with my frankenbabe sticker and matching apparel. Growing up I loved pin-up doll imagery but thought it lacked inclusion of more plus-sized women and women of colour. Monstra has always been about leading by example, this collection creates more diversity in imagery I’ve always loved.
Since my first semester at OSF I’ve told a story through each step of the board building process. From how the board is shaped to the graphic. I built 2 molds and had the ability to press prototype decks and then put the molds into production. The first mold I made was a coffin mold in collaboration with @lonewolfskates, shaping a dramatic horror themed coffin deck that’s still shreddable like a street deck. The second is a mid-80s mold built in collaboration with @zimskateboards, combining old school inspirations with new school functionality. Both custom hand built boards and new Monstra Bomber Babe shop decks will be available by order through my Instagram. Shop decks will also be available online along with new “Monstra Babes” products coming soon and apparel already exclusively available on “Shop Monstra”.
“I love how you use your brand to help create more representation for plus-sized women and women of colour. The images you chose to represent your brand today show the huge amounts of brand development you have made since your first semester at OSF. Congratulations on winning the OSF Board Builder of the Year award, you deserve it!”
“Early in the school year I noticed a yellow post-it on the board builder’s award with your name on it and now here we are. Dreams really do come true, especially when you work hard to make them a reality.”
“Amazing use of colour along with anime influences make these designs pop off the page! Use of gradients with the three colour shifts on the board design is great. It would be great to see the final production, printed on the board. Good work.”
“Well done. You’ve come so far from the girl who sat quietly in the back of the classroom. Your designs are bold, your commitment to colour is fantastic and you’ve stayed true to your brand. Great work.”
HYSTERIC ESOTERIC
Hello! I’m a young artist that attends Oasis Skateboard Factory. My brand name is Hysteric Esoteric. My brand exists to open the minds of people to celebrate everyone’s differences, and to inspire others to help each other.
My brand started out as a very busy kind of art style with many creatures and colours, but over the year I’ve developed the characters to have more of a personality. I’ve also started to do most of my drawings digitally, and I started to edit my photos more, adding things in the background. We’ve also made so many cool items, including skateboards (of course), stickers, t-shirts, socks, phone cases, and more!
For my brand in the future, I hope to continue to make many more amazing products. Thank you Oasis Skateboard Factory and Roarockit for everything!
“Your work looks super professional! I love how you use the white borders around all your images to give everything a sticker-like look while also helping tie together your brand.”
“Your exploration of the techniques to illustrate your brand have really paid off. The messages are clear. I hope you continue to develop your voice through the work. Congrats.”
“I love 3D work. Your stool design looks great. Repurposing materials and using the skateboard as a canvas is where it’s at. Good for you for teaching us respect and care of all.”
“Your work is imaginative and totally on point in our current climate. Finding new ways to use old things is always a challenge, one you’ve managed to meet with great success.”
JOKESMITH
My brand Jokesmith is here to lighten the mood and encourage wild, silly, and shameless self expression.
Jokesmith was inspired by my mischievous and goofy character, the typical colours of the joker, the colourful world of casinos and risk of gambling, and the charms/luck symbols that fill your life with confidence. The magic that Jokesmith possesses was inspired by the charm of fortune tellers, magicians, and genies. Later on I decided to add more characters to my brand, including Clover, the Jokesmith's lover, and Ace, his ghoulish dog. I still have a lot more story to build on through image, but my last skateboard mockup reflects how life can be devasting and beautiful at the same time. When one door shuts, 7 more open. I hope my brand/latest skateboard inspires positivity in someone, and to have faith in the magic of our universe.
With quarantine going on, it's been up and down with creativity, but here I am finally being motivated and typing this out. Jokesmith says don't beat yourself up nowadays. :P Things will get better for all of us when this is over. My next steps are to make some merch to symbolize the excitement of new beginnings!! :D
I'm so happy with how my brand Jokesmith has developed so far. When I put all my work together, I could see there was a good theme going. :) On top of that, I found some old socks from years ago when I first created my brand at OSF. My imagery has had a lot more effort and thought put into it since then, but the core of my brand and even my colours were still there.
My next step for my brand is to make more skateboards and merch! Hopefully one day Jokesmith can be a lot bigger than just an Instagram. I also hope I can do a victory lap this September so I can build more on the identity of Jokesmith, helping me be motivated to figure out myself as well.
“I love the creation of characters that can be used across your work, it gives great continuity across the different items in your product line. Your positivity is contagious!”
“I’m so glad that you see the progression of the work. The colour and design encourages one to explore one’s own imagination with limitless energy. Stay true to your brand.”
“Love the detail work in your designs. It must take hours of work to do this. Your designs are well suited for t-shirts and skateboards. Black on black works great with your drawings. Thanks and look forward to your future work.”
“The detail you infuse in your work is astounding. You opened my eyes to the reality of white privilege and the influence it has in my life and the way I see the world. I hope you continue to shine a light on abuse and oppression which you do in a very non-threatening way. We all need a sunny reminder.”
LURN SKATEBOARDS
Hello everyone, I’m Lurn Skateboards. Lurn exists to promote participation and inclusion in the face of corporate consumerism.
This year at OSF I have had my eyes opened to a plethora of artists, businesses, and ideas. Before coming to OSF I was in a place of stagnation at my old school, dragging my heels through homework and essays with good intentions but no motivation to push me. Since creating Lurn with the help of Craig and Lauren I've seen how much having my own business and the freedom to express myself through art has connected me more closely to myself and to my fellow skaters. The ability to work on something I'm so interested in and graduate at the same time is extremely empowering and I wish more schools that offer such a unique and engaging experience could exist since I see how much it can help people like me. Watching my classmates create brands alongside me that express their character and allow for such amazing art helped me to see that we are all on are own paths of finding our style and voice and that through collaboration we gain insight into each perspective. OSF turned art from something I do in the margins of my homework to a whole brand with art shows and events to back it up.
Moving forward and graduating is exciting, even though I will miss the studio and the constant push of work. I can’t wait to start creating on my own time and thanks to Roarockit it is possible. In telling co-workers, family and friends about my ability to create custom skateboards, I was amazed at how many people jumped at the idea even if they have never skated before. I have already worked out a small corner of my parent’s garage as an impromptu studio and love explaining the process of board making to anyone I can. I look forward to spending the summer working on graphics and boards and getting the word out about Lurn from the skate park and beyond.
“Your story and perspective is great, it really shows what OSF is all about. Best of luck continuing your board building journey!”
“I think your experience is a rewarding commentary on the goals of OSF. You have obviously found your strong inner voice, one that will carry you into a successful future. Your messages are clearly articulated and I have no doubt that this leadership you’ve developed will take you far.”
LOIS LANE
Lois Lane exists to inspire people to find their individuality through skateboarding.
“Ratfink was a favourite in my youth. The angry dog logo on the t-shirt looks great. I like the use of solid colour in your images. Lois Lane would be proud. Good work.”
“As the girlfriend of Superman, Lois Lane had lots of responsibilities. This work is a good demonstration of the power one person can have to influence others. Congratulations.”
BEDLAM BLOOM
My brand is Bedlam Bloom! We exist to bind beauty and chaos. This is my second semester at OSF and I can truly say it’s been the best school year of my life. I have learned so much about design and business, I really feel prepared and equipped to take my brand to the next level. I don’t want to give too much away about my plans for Bedlam Bloom... but I can definitely say that things are going to get pretty funky! I would really like to start incorporating my personal art style into my products more and work towards creating some unique, statement pieces. I look forward to the rest of my time at OSF and hope I can inspire some people along the way! <3
“I love your hand-painted boards! It’s great to hear about what you have learned at OSF and that you are looking forward to further developing your brand and taking it to the next level. Looking forward to seeing what you do next!”
“I think you’ve already achieved the goal of inspiring others. The garden holds a special place for me and the manifestation of blooming bedlam calls up the image of JEH Macdonald’s Tangled garden, much like the work you presented here.”
“Lots of variety here. Love the socks and the skateboard/sock image. The butterfly looks great and would be fantastic on a t-shirt. Reminds me of a Monarch butterfly filled tree I once saw on Toronto Island. Literally thousands on one tree. Thanks for reminding me of the memory.”
“You’ve helped me learn so much about the indigenous influence in the skate world. Your work is thoughtful and moves me to be thoughtful of a culture I still need to learn so much about. Miigwich indeed.”
PLAYGROUND SKATEBOARDS
Playground Skateboards exists to celebrate your inner child.
Please join us in congratulating Playground Skateboards, our graduate and Ontario Scholar, for being awarded a Governor General’s Academic Medal!
“I love the background of your image! The colours and duck shapes work really well together. I’d love to see that pattern as a phone case or skateboard. Huge congrats on the medal!”
“This is just ducky. As we get older it’s easy to forget how important play is. Your work is strong, imaginative and light-hearted... just what every grown-up kid needs. Thanks for the reminder.”
“Canoes are bent wood forms and are sometimes constructed similar to a skateboard. Laminated and bentwood objects have been around for a long time. We use wood for so many different uses but the best is when it becomes a vehicle to explore our world or with the skateboard lets us move through an urban landscape. Good work. Thanks for getting us to think about nature in all its beauty.”
“You have been focused on this message since your arrival at OSF. The success you’ve achieved in the work you’ve produced makes me certain that your path forward will continue to be one filled with reminders of the love you have for our natural world.”
“As a skater girl myself I love your brand message! Congrats on your work this year. Keep on empowering young women!”
“Throughout this year i’ve watched you grow, both in your building skills and the recognition of your own power. Girls can be sh*t skaters and your example is one to share. Great work.”
MAGIC FORTE
Hello! My brand is Magic Forte. Magic Forte exists to escape reality using music. But it hasn't always existed to escape reality. My brand has been through many changes throughout my career at Oasis Skateboard Factory. But first let me start with a little story of how my ideas portrayed in my collage came to be.
Since it is my dream to be an animator, I’m always thinking of animations to make. I usually never think of a still image to draw. I also love the animation style of the 1980’s. Then, I started to draw characters from the 1980’s like Betty Boop and her dog, Pudgy. I’ve also been playing the violin for 13 years and have a fond connection to music and so badly wanted music to be a part of my work. Then a story popped up in my head: A story about a little boy who loved to play his recorder through his nose. But then one day there were so many boogers built up inside the recorder that it turned into a giant magical booger head that took over the recorder for a body. And she could make anything into a 1980’s cartoon with the wave of her conductors stick. The boy ended up naming her Musicia which was my first idea for my brand name but it didn’t really speak to me.
So I took some advice from my teachers and searched up adjectives associated with Music and well, magic! Which brought me to Magic Forte. Then choosing my brand colors and Logos was also a challenge that I quickly overcame. I chose rare brand colors and was inspired by many games for my logo. And from then on, I’ve been creating pieces and new logos inspired by the stories that are to this day still running through my mind. For the future, I hope to turn my pieces into a portfolio for College and pursue being an Animator by finally making all my ideas into animations!
“Thanks for sharing your ideas. It’s great to see where they come from. Combining two loves, graphics and music is fantastic. You are well on the way of finding your style by combining these. Your college goals are achievable. Keep up the good work.”
“Music inspires us on so many levels, some we are not even aware of. I believe magic is always present: we just need to pay attention to the signs. Seems like that’s exactly what you’re doing and reminding us of that power is something that you’ve achieved. The road ahead is full of mystery and joy.”
“I like how your drawings are very loose and sketchy, it makes for some interesting outcomes. The thin white lines on a black t-shirt work very well!”
“As I write this I am smiling. The work is playful and full of energy. Oh wait...is that a dog i hear barking?”
“Great graphics! Particularly love the space monkey. You have a good sense of imagery. Your combination of good drawing skills with creative ideas, is your strongpoint. Looks like you have discovered your style. That’s a big step. Good for you.”
“Your work is very architectural to me. Using recognizable forms in unexpected ways is exactly what we need as a species going forward and you do a great job of suggesting the possible.”
INTOSK8
Skateboarding is a great activity, its fun, challenging, pushes your limits and there is always something new to learn from it. At INTOSK8 we want people of all ages to experience the love and support we have for each other in our community. We also want to change how most of society views skateboarding, to see all the passion and creativity we have for it instead of noisy plank on wheels.
“I love your message! The design on the board is also amazing, I love the different scales you worked with to create depth within the image.”
“I came to OSF without much knowledge of skate culture. What I’ve learned is exactly what your message is. A caring, inclusive community that exists to help one another, celebrate the achievements and bolster the confidence of the people involved. My life has been profoundly influenced by the experience and I hope you continue to stay true to your passion.”
“Don’t we all need an escape from reality these days! Covid-19 really does suck! Nice board design and good graphics on the t-shirt and skateboard. It would be great to see the skeleton image used more like for socks and t-shirts.”
“Escaping from reality is a real challenge. The boldness of the work encourages making the effort required to do just that.”
“I like how you used an image of a brick wall as the base to display your logos and drawings! It really brings your drawings to life and shows us more of the street culture aspect of your brand.”
“What we see in the streets now will help tell the stories of our time in the future, kind of like the work of the ancient cave paintings. Historical records add to everyone’s experience of the world and add so much to our understanding. A noble cause.”
JESTER SKATEBOARDING
Jester Skateboarding exists for those who like to be rowdy and over the top which is why we specialize in very large longboards.
“I like that idea. Very long longboards are fun to make and for sure fun to ride. A jester on a very long longboard would be a fun thing to see! Your Jester image is a blast! Be great to see it as a logo or full blown image on a board.”
“The jester’s role was to remind everyone not to take things too seriously. Your work epitomizes that concept. Congrats.”
“Personally, I love your colour palette! The way your spider motif transforms across your different pieces is great. I also absolutely love the custom Spider Spit board you did last year!”
“Your work calls to mind so many references. Being reminded of that history is something that we all can share and incorporate into where we are right now. Many thanks.”
“That board image is sweet! Really great graphic and stencil work. Thrashing that board would be bittersweet! Keep up the good work.”
“This work is exquisite. Your graphics draw a very visceral response. The wolf in all it’s experiences of life. I find it very moving.”
n3ctar
n3ctar exists to embed the concept of interconnectedness between us and the universe, and everything in it through art!
Displaying the mystics and beauty of the world, my visual concepts incorporate the idea of a cycle: my brand name n3ctar, signifies the beauty and crucial importance of the cycle of pollination. An example of a bee, a tiny insect, literally holding the responsibility of transferring pollen to allow fertilization: new life, new cycles.
“I love the silver bubble-like pattern on your board, great job with the stencilling too! I also like how you made some of the leaves from the background overlap over your work, it adds some great dimension.”
“What a marvellous job you’ve done, integrating the ways we are dependent on one another, on nature and the cycle of life. I hope you continue to develop these themes: we are in such need of this message in the world we currently inhabit.”
GRACIOUS GRUNGE
Gracious Grunge exists to bridge hip hop and skate culture in Toronto.
“Love your brand name, Gracious Grunge is fantastic. Your t-shirt design works well with the black and gold. I would like to see the logo on a board, maybe as grip tape art. Nice work.”
“I can almost hear the beats. These two worlds colliding is a match made in heaven and you’ve done a great job creating the bridge.”
ZUL DUH
Zul Duh exists to create shreddable products and destroy the norms of skateboarding.
“I love the idea of your brand, I am definitely guilty of being too precious with my boards. Great job!”
“Tearing down old ideas and habits is something we all struggle with. You’ve achieved the goal and the work is inspiring.”
Thank you to all the students for all their hard work this year!
There’s a tremendous amount of talent in this body of work! Great work everyone! I'm really impressed with the quality of the design and application of your brands. I see a lot of effort has been put into creating unique designs. While this has been a strange year to be in (or out) of school, I hope the experience has been memorable and that you will look back on these skateboard projects as great learning experiences. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Fall Graduation!
- Norah Jackson (President of Roarockit Skateboard Company, Co-chair of the Oasis Skateboard Factory Community Council)
Taryn O'Grady,
Roarockit Skateboard Company