MY Interview with Web Designer Otis Collins From www.prepjerks.com:

What is creativity to you?
Creativity to us is the ability to absorb things in your surroundings and become inspired by them, both negative and positive. Jim Jarmusch once wrote,

“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, and street signs, and trees clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only the things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery-celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where your take things from-it’s where you them to.”

-Do you consider yourself to be creative? Why or why not?
Yes we do feel very creative. The one thing that we possess that is as important, if not more important than creativity is the ability to be innovative. It is one thing to think of something creative, it’s another thing to actually do it.

“Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things.”
— Theodore Levitt

-Do you critique your own work?
Yes, we believe that trial and error are all apart of creating what we believe is a good product. We believe that spending time nitpicking an idea is the best way to perfect and balance the end product.

-How do you manage to stay both personal and original in your creative endeavors?

Throughout our creative process we try to perceive things from both the buyers and sellers perspective. We try to create things that are different and new yet relatable and familiar. We exclusively produce ideas that we truly value.

-Has rejection ever affected your creative process? Explain.
No, rejection has only affected our business process. Our initial approach was deemed subpar by shop owners but that only “fueled the fire” to enhance the quality of our products.

-What kind of jobs did you have before your career took off?
We were mail handlers, package handlers, electronic recyclers, legal narcotics distributors, and even debt collectors. However, in all actuality we are still in terminal D7 waiting to board our plane. Not because we are not seeing progress but because we have goals that are set extremely high. So it will take time and hard work for our plane to depart.
 
-what was the biggest opposing force that you encountered on your creative journey?
Our largest opposing force is a limited amount of resources. We have ideas that cannot translate into actual product due to that fact. We will continue to strive to bring these ideas to life but for now we will work with what is provided.

-If you had a chance to live during a different artistic movement other than now, which would you choose?

The mid-late 80’s would be the era of choice. The 80’s influence on pop culture has remained relevant to this day. It was an era when rebellion fueled creativity and inspiration.

-If you could interview a creative person (past or present) who would that person be? Please explain your choice.

 Andy Warhol and Jean Michel Basquiat.
Warhol because of his impact on pop art, film and, print work. Basquiat because his art was inspired by street graffiti throughout the late 70’s and then gaining main stream success in the 1980’s for his Neo-expressionist style. He influences artist to this day and his art still sells for high prices. 

-If you were our President, what would be your first order of business be?
N/A
-how would you like to be remembered?
We would like to be remembered for our positive and conscious contributions to pop-culture and non-traditional street wear.