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 developed countless custom illustrated foil stamps for discs, along with apparel graphics, signage, social media visuals, and a wide range of brand-supporting artwork. I’ve also worked closely with the owners to help shape and refine the company’s overall visual direction as the brand has grown.
One of the 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 approach to illustration and design constantly pushes the work forward, and that creative back-and-forth has played a meaningful role in sharpening my own skills.
TSA is built by a tight, highly capable team. Aaron oversees operations and brand growth, while Paul, the warehouse manager, provides invaluable hands-on feedback during production. Because we consistently push the boundaries of foil stamping and manufacturing techniques, that direct production insight is critical. Every design must not only look strong, but physically translate onto discs at scale.
So what is Thought Space Athletics? They’re an independent disc golf company that built their reputation around art-driven product design. Widely recognized for some of the strongest visuals in the sport, they’ve collaborated with top professional players and respected brands while producing a lineup of distinctive, collectible discs. Their apparel line stands on its own as thoughtfully designed streetwear that resonates even beyond the disc golf community.
Working with TSA has allowed me to develop product graphics that balance bold illustration with strict manufacturing constraints, a skill set directly transferable to apparel, boards, and other product-driven brands.
UNIQUE LIMITATIONS
Designing artwork for disc golf discs using hot foil stamping comes with a very specific set of constraints. Most stamps are limited to one to three colors, ideally with minimal overlap. Line weights generally need to stay between 1pt and 18pt, and tight gaps or tiny areas of negative space must be avoided so the foil doesn’t fill in or drop out. Some manufacturers require artwork to stay at least 1.5 cm away from the center of the disc to prevent stamping issues, and any solid area larger than about a quarter inch square needs perforation or texture to allow trapped air to escape during pressing.
These restrictions make disc stamp design a highly specialized production discipline. Every illustration must be engineered as carefully as it is drawn.
Color introduces another layer of unpredictability. A single design is often run across a wide range of foil and plastic combinations. While pairings can be suggested, the final result is typically determined at the press, often at speed. That means unexpected color outcomes are part of the process. Because of this, designs must be built with flexibility in mind. Traditional highlight-and-shadow approaches don’t always translate, as certain foil combinations can visually flatten or invert depth.
Yet within those limitations is where the strongest work happens. Constraints force clarity, bold composition, and intentional mark-making. In many ways, the medium aligns naturally with my own design preferences, graphic structure, confident linework, and strong contrast carrying the entire piece. The final result often sits somewhere between tattoo art and block printing, where shape and balance matter more than surface detail.
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.
