You came up with the name MSTRPLN in 2001 long before it was cool to leave out vowels, what inspired the moniker?

When it came time to register a domain name for my website portfolio, Masterplan had already been taken, so still wanting to use this in some way I thought it might be a good idea to just lose the vowels and run it like that. It was both good and bad, because whenever anyone would ask me in person what the URL for my website was, I’d always look stupid having to spell it out for them. Now I just hand them a business card.

Much of your work for the MSTRPLN brand has been greyscale, what drives you over and over back to this color palate?

For some reason it always comes back to this and it somehow came to be a signature style over time to keep everything in the darker shade of things. Color is an important element, it evokes feeling and sets a tone. I wanted to keep MSTRPLN within the greyscale palette to stay neutral. Focus on the work and concept rather than the color. Color is great, but only for my clients.

What do you think has been the biggest improvement to the industry since you began?

Well the internet has improved, and with the adoption of social media, people are able to get really connected and keep up to date on what is going on. It was never like this before. Now you can get the word out about what you are doing with Twitter and reach a whole lot more people than you were ever able to in the past. It’s making things more personal and transparent and people are into that.

Do you think it has it helped you stand out? or are web savvy underqualified designers eating up jobs?

Definitely helped to get more exposure and make some new connections that probably wouldn’t have happened without some type of social media element. Twitter is a great marketing tool if you know how to use it well, I used it when I launched Forsnowboarding and it was a great way to get the message out about contests and features that were going on with the site, as well as a direct connection with the site’s audience.

As for web savvy under-qualified designers, that’s a whole other discussion. You have sites now that just create an online portfolio for people with no prior knowledge of site design (or design in general). Two clicks of a button and it’s done. Things like this add convenience, but at the same time undervalue a trade and skill that takes years of experience to master.

What piece of technology has made your life easier / harder since its inception?

EASIER: iPhone / iPod touch hands down for just being a useful tool to keep on the grind. Things for OSX, a Getting Things Done application, is also pretty handy to keep everything on track and organized.

HARDER:  iPhone as well, everyone wants an app or a website that’s designed for mobile these days, so you have to keep up and learn how to stay on top of the current trends.

Many artists started out with a marker or a can of paint, how did you get your start?

I was always drawing when I was younger but I stopped for many years. I never thought that I could make a career through that so I went to pursue other things. I discovered design and Photoshop later on and found that it was something I was really interested in and went from there. That was 10 years ago.

What did you take up in its place?

I actually worked on a business degree in commerce. Which helped with much of the back-end of what I’m doing now with running MSTRPLN® from a business standpoint. So in a way it has helped me and wasn’t a total loss. I figured that that was where the money was at at that time, but it was boring as hell and that pushed me to follow what I wanted to do instead of what I thought was the right thing to do.

You designed the asrd wifi sneakers a few years before they suddenly got huge press presence, what were your thoughts when that finally happened?

I was pretty surprised, I did the project with UBIQ three years earlier and then it got randomly picked up by the media, so waking up to a full inbox of emails about it all of a sudden was out of the ordinary.

Were you shocked that it took so long?

Yeah for the most part, I never expected to see it on TV or on sites like Wired and Complex. Definitely some good exposure for me and for UBIQ.

Did you think people just weren’t feeling it?

People were on the fence with this shoe, probably because it had a deeper concept to it than just being based on aesthetics. So a lot of people who would just take a glance wouldn’t think anything of it until they took a closer look. The design was also hit or miss. I spoke with SBTG® when I was coming up with the concept for these and it kept coming back to incorporating some lace guards as a throwback to the skate shoes from the 80’s. This was the part that most people were not feeling, but he was like “forget the haters” and that reassured me that the project was going in the right direction.

Did Nike ever holler at you?

No, but they still can if they’re interested in collaborating.

Anybody else?

I still get emails from people asking where they can buy a pair.

You seem to have a healthy jordan obsession, what was your first jordan memory?

It was back in grade school, where a classmate got a pair of the black and red Jordan IV’s. They looked unlike anything I saw, the wings, mesh and air cushion were pushing the limit of anything back then. I wanted a pair but my parents could never justify spending so much on something like that.

When did you get your first pair with your own coin and what pair would you want right now?

I never liked any of the current Jordans, but back in 1999 when they re-released the Jordan V’s I jumped on that right away and bought a pair of the white retros. Over time I managed to get my hands on the V’s and VI’s in black, the only pair that is missing is the IV to complete the collection.

You have the Retro’s or the OG V’s & VI’s?

I have the OG retros from ‘99 and some of the re-released ones from the last couple years. I wanted to wear them without having the midsoles crumble to the ground. The ‘99 is pushing it though because it’s 10 years old now, but it’s still in top shape. The only thing I prefer about the older retros and the OG’s over what is coming out now, and i’m sure everyone agrees with this, is the “Nike Air” embroidery on the back that is sadly missing since everything is now being released under Jordan Brand.

You’re a big snowboarding fan, who was your idol growing up?

I’d have to say Jeff Brushie and Terje Haakonsen, and most of the Burton team from the 90’s.

They had a hell of a team back then, groundbreaking, how’d you feel when Brushie left for Ride? Or better yet, what about Victoria Jealouse?

Anytime anyone switches teams from Burton, the public goes crazy in disbelief, but people have their own reasons for leaving.  That Brushie switch to Ride at that time was really controversial. And the pro model boards that were released that year were bangers. Vegas theme with Dice and sublimated base graphics like no one ever saw before.

That was huge, I still have the Brushie with a squirrel graphic and the disappearing trail on the base.

You design a myriad of things, apparel, logos, websites, what is your favorite medium for design?

I prefer branding and working out ideas and concepts. Coming up with a visual identity and then go from there. I think that’s the most versatile thing, because if it’s a solid concept, it can always be applied to other mediums.

How do you begin?

I sit down with a pad of paper and a pen and just sketch ideas, then bring whatever ideas I get out of it to the computer to mock-up and see if it works out.

You designed a few things for our readers. what was the inspiration behind the concept?

I came up with some wallpapers for the desktop and iPhone that pretty much sum up the MSTRPLN® style. It’s minimal for the most part, with some sneaker reference “splatter” patterns and some WRG? branding specifically for this collaboration

Who would you like to work with if given the opportunity?

Nike, Burton, and Oakley would be a solid bet, I would love to help contribute to what they do, I’m sure some of the MSTRPLN® aesthetic would work well with either of their brands in some way or another.

That sounds like most designer’s A-list of clients, what is it about those brands that draws you in from a design standpoint?

They have great resources that allow for the design progression of their products and the creativity that surrounds their respective brands. Their products are a great platform for creative exploration and that is why they are at the forefront of what they do.

MSTRPLN is heading into its 10th year, any special anniversary plans?

I’ll be coming out with a new MSTRPLN® website and iPhone site soon with some new updated projects. I have some plans to release a small run of t-shirts to coincide with this. It’s looking good!

Where can we tell people to be on the lookout for your work in the near future?

I’m working on some special projects with Fatlace this year. Doing some in-store visual design for their boutique in San Francisco, and a small apparel collection to go along with that. Hats, t-shirts, skateboard decks etc. It’s looking to be pretty cool, just ironing out the details. Mark Fatlace is a pretty inspiring guy with all the stuff that he’s worked on over the years, so it’s really great to help be a part of that and do something cool for a brand i’m down with.

Last words?

Just wanted to give thanks for this opportunity, and thanks to everyone that has supported me in one way or another over the years, it’s really appreciated. You can check out mstrpln.com and follow me at @mstrpln on twitter.

Download the MSTRPLN limited edition background pack for your computer, iPhone or Blackberry here