The mighty Simian Mobile Disco are set to release their second record with a glut of fantastic vocalists no doubt set to dominate blogs and the entire music press over the Spring and Summer Months. As if ‘I Believe’ wasn’t brilliant enough – their new material sounds fittingly wonderful. With all of us wondering what Mr. James Ford had been up to for the last 6 months, and now we know.

A few weeks ago we caught up with Kate Moross who has been been the creative linchpin and driving force behind the new SMD video as well as the new album art direction. Kate also runs the record label ISO MORPHS and has a rather helpful Wiki page. Highly recommend investing in her t-shirts. As she goes on to mention she designs and creates them herself, they’re highly limited and beautiful!

Would you consider yourself for most a graphic designer?
Yes for most, but I am an Art Director too, and a illustrate as well.

I’m a huge fan of your T-shirt designs, would you consider developing a high street range?
I am in the process of doing so, but still I like that my shirts are limited edition and cared for by my own fair hands.

What plans do you have for your label in 2009
We just launched the ISO TEE series for 2009 where we make a shirt for a band every month of the year and sell them online.

We’re huge fans of Heartsrevolution, how did you discover them, and end up designing that amazing artwork?
I met the band in New York. We fell in love. We worked together on everything.

As a graphic designer, who do you feel about digital music? Do you feel your designs can carry the same weight on clothing and apparel as they would on vinyl?
Digital music is amazing, i use it everyday.  Designs are different what ever surface they are on. Vinyl has a very different semiotic than CD, it has a whole history behind it.  Plus its fragile, expensive, and normally better looking.  You can’t just put something on a record thats on a tee and vice versa you need to consider surface, print technique everythin in order to re appropriate your design to get it looking perfect.

What are your favorite records of all time?
Prince /  Raspberry Beret 7″
Apes & Androids / Golden Prize / Riverside
Julie Ruin /  Julie Ruin
Lil Wayne / Tha Carter III
……Well right now anyway.

What are you working on at the moment?
Art Direction for Simian Mobile Disco for the new record.  Designing the tees for the ISO range. Freezing my fingers off in my office.

What’s your favorite design so far (link to this would be cool) that you have created
That is a tough one, its like asking me to choose my favorite child. Right now I am happy with : http://www.katemoross.com/work/detail/apes-androids/

I could just live in/with your designs, but which designers really inspired you?
You should know not to ask me this question!!!

Tags: Iso Morphs, Kate Moross, Simian Mobile Disco

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