Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Tang.
Jon, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve been designing footwear for practically every brand under the sun for roughly 13 years now. I actually started in graphic design first. Ever since I was 16, I was doing graphic design for marketing firms and print companies. It wasn’t until only a year or so working professionally that I wanted to switch over to footwear. Footwear was always a life long passion for me. I didn’t grow up with money so I had to save every penny on my own to buy sneakers off my friend’s feet just to be a part of it. I used to cut out Eastbay catalogs of the sneakers I really wanted and pinned them on my wall. I would just stare at them and really dissect them. If I could afford any of them, then I’d know which one I really want and why. So to be a part of the footwear industry now designing for the one thing I used to dream about is a dream come true in itself.
Over the years of working for all these brands, I began to think about having my own brand. It started off with small ideas here and there of what I’d like to do different for certain parts of a brand like the logo then vibe and feel then even down to the typeface for the brand font. It got to a point where I had really figured all parts of the brand for every aspect of it. So in 2015, I just went for it and started FRONTEER.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth is perspective. The road wasn’t easy but the road wasn’t really what I was shooting for. It was the goal. The goal of being a footwear designer. That’s what I wanted and I did whatever it took to get there.
The biggest struggle was learning that when you work for a brand, you have to design for the brand. It’s not your brand. You can bring your perspective and taste level, but in the end, it’s someone else’s brand. That’s a tough thing as a young designer cause you want to bring in so much of yourself into it.
FRONTEER – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
FRONTEER is a lifestyle outdoor concept brand. It specializes in telling stories of outdoor culture with footwear and accessories. I created this brand and design all the products and marketing for the brand.
I’m most proud of this brand in its unwavering commitment to stories and ideas. It stands apart from other outdoor brands cause it’s really less about being an outdoor brand and more about being a lifestyle outdoor brand. I came from a category of designing footwear very conceptually and story-driven. I felt the outdoor space didn’t really have this for footwear so I wanted to make a brand that really committed to conceptual storytelling of outdoor culture.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is when you want something and you go and get it. Hitting a goal that you sought after is one of the most satisfying feelings in the world.
It all starts with just defining what you truly want and then figuring out how to get there. Doesn’t matter how long it takes or how tough it may be. It’s all about truly understanding what you want and you’ll always be satisfied knowing you’re going after it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fronteer.us
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fronteerusa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fronteerusa/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fronteerusa
Image Credit:
Tiffanie Marie (on the portrait shots), FRONTEER (on other shots)
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