Satellite Voices

Dubai

Community: Rob Gibbs

February 9

A local spotlight on illustrator and graphic designer behind the region's first custom toy exhibition

• Text by Simone Sebastian

We speak to the Dubai-based Rob Gibbs illustrator and designer behind creative studio Robotandspark. Rob is a well known figure in local design circles and curated a custom toy exhibition in 2010 that gathered together the city’s freshest creatives. In this local spotlight, we find out more about the sneaker-loving design fiend.

Satellite Voices: What makes you smile?
Rob Gibbs: My family, friends, the sun, snow, thunder and lightning, beach bars, Stockholm, Baskin Robbins mint-choc-chip ice cream, great art and design, Coarse toys, the 80s and anything with Bill Murray in it.

SV: What was the first thing you ever made?
Rob Gibbs: A little balsa wood windmill. It's the first thing I can remember. It was a school project and my dad helped me. We even spray-painted coconut flakes green to make them look like grass.

SV: What’s your dream project?
Rob Gibbs: Me + Takashi Murakami + unlimited budget + a brief to design a pair of limited edition guns!

SV: What do you wish you had designed / created?
Rob Gibbs: The Nike Air visible air bubble - genius! 

SV: Whose work would you recommend on checking out?
Rob Gibbs: I spend a whole load of time checking blogs and websites. There are so many insanely talented people out there. But I really love Tomer Hanuka, Gianmarco Magnani, Morning Breath and Valerie Vargas.

Satellite Voices: Tell us about an upcoming project that you're excited about.
Rob Gibbs: I'm fortunate enough to be really excited about a lot of upcoming projects, both pro-active stuff and for clients… but I think Im most excited about our new range of children's apparel that we are launching later this year. it is called Baby Boy and will feature t-shirts, caps and bedroom wall graphics.