THOUGHT SPACE ATHLETICS
For the past several years, Thought Space Athletics has been a major part of my creative life. As a member of their design team, I’ve contributed to countless custom illustrated foil stamps for discs, along with social media graphics, signage, and a wide range of brand visuals. I’ve also worked closely with the owners to help shape and refine the company’s overall design direction and visual identity.
One of TSA’s owners, Tony Greystone, is an exceptional illustrator and artist. Collaborating with him has been one of the most rewarding creative partnerships I’ve experienced. His insight, skill, and approach to illustration continually push me to grow, and I genuinely believe my own work has improved significantly through that collaboration.
TSA is a great company to work with. Aaron, the other owner is a multitalented and oversees all. While Paul the warehouse manager is so helpful giving us direct feedback on what does and doesn’t work when physically producing our art on discs. Especially because we like to push the boundaries and test out new methods.
So what is Thought Space Athletics? They’re an independent disc golf company that built their reputation through art-driven design. Widely recognized for having some of the strongest visuals in the sport, they’ve collaborated with top professional players and leading brands while producing their own lineup of distinctive, collectible discs. Beyond that, their apparel line stands on its own as thoughtfully designed streetwear that appeals even to people who’ve never picked up a disc.
Find out more: ThoughtSpaceAthletics.com
UNIQUE LIMITATIONS
Designing artwork for disc golf discs using hot foil stamping comes with a very specific and unusual set of constraints. Most stamps are limited to one to three colours, ideally with minimal overlap between them. Line weights generally need to stay between about 1pt and 18pt, and tight gaps or tiny negative spaces have to be avoided so the foil doesn’t fill in or drop out. Some manufacturers also require designs to stay at least 1.5 cm away from the centre of the disc to prevent dropout issues, and any solid area larger than roughly a quarter inch square needs perforation or texture to allow trapped air to escape during pressing. All of these restrictions make disc golf illustration a very specialized design discipline.
Another challenge is colour unpredictability. A single design is often run in a huge range of foil and plastic combinations, and while you can suggest pairings, the final result is usually determined by whoever is operating the stamping machine. And they are working fast! That means you regularly get unexpected colour outcomes. Because of this, designs have to be created with flexibility in mind. Traditional highlight-and-shadow approaches, for example, don’t always translate well, since certain foil combinations can visually invert or flatten depth.
Yet within those limitations is where the magic happens. Constraints force clarity, boldness, and intentional mark-making. In many ways, the medium naturally complements my own illustration preferences. The result often lands somewhere between tattoo art and block printing, where strong shapes, confident linework, and graphic contrast carry the entire design.
DISC GOLF BAGS
If you’re not familiar with disc golf, each disc mold is engineered to produce a specific flight pattern. That’s why players carry a range of discs such as putters, fairway drivers, distance drivers, and utility discs. Most players build a full lineup, and the easiest way to manage them on the course is with a backpack designed specifically for disc golf, allowing quick access to exactly the disc you need at any moment.
One of the leading bag manufacturers in the sport is Grip EQ, and one of the world’s top professional players is Simon Lizotte. Although Simon is sponsored by another disc brand, he chose to collaborate with Thought Space Athletics and, by extension, with me, because he trusted our design sensibilities. We presented him with a range of directions, from bold and highly illustrative to subtle and pattern-driven. Simon selected the concept that best reflected his personality and what he wanted to represent every time he stepped on camera.
The bag was released in both blue and green colourways. While the base bag structure remained Grip EQ’s proven design, we customized all printable areas to align with Simon’s personal aesthetic, creating a piece that felt uniquely his while still fitting seamlessly within the brand’s product line.
ATHLETE LOGOS
Athlete logos in disc golf are especially interesting because they’re deeply personal. Unlike traditional branding projects, the focus isn’t on appealing to a specific demographic or target market. Instead, the priority is creating a mark the athlete genuinely connects with, something that reflects their identity, personality, or story.
Sometimes that inspiration comes from a nickname, like Lykke “Lucky” or Chandler “Chanimal.” Other times it draws from personal interests or background, such as Ali’s connection to mathematics. In every case, the goal is the same: to develop a logo that feels authentic to the athlete while still functioning as a strong, versatile mark that works across discs, apparel, and branding applications.
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
SO MANY THINGS
Alongside a wide range of production responsibilities, I also handle the technical setup for die plates used in every stamp, whether the artwork was created by Tony, myself, or occasionally another artist. I often produce social media graphics for designs I didn’t personally illustrate as well, making sure everything stays consistent with the brand’s visual standards.
At the same time, I still carve out space to design the many supporting pieces that keep a brand running smoothly. That includes everything from trailer wraps and custom stamp templates to shelf name tags, flight charts, infographics, business cards, stickers, apparel, and even beer labels or Whale Sacs, the unique chalk bags used to keep players’ hands dry. The range of work is extensive, and that variety is part of what makes it so rewarding.
