# Skateboard Deck Graphics > The graphics printed on the underside of skateboard decks, developed by Californian skate companies in the 1970s and 80s (the scope here; later photographic and parody decks are not covered). An artist-drawn image, usually a monster, skull, hand or cartoon figure in heavy ink outline, fills a tall vertical board in a few flat screenprinted colours, with a brand logo that repeats across a collectible series of models. - Period: 1973–1989 - Where: North America, Global / networked - Origin: California: skate companies out of Santa Cruz (NHS, Inc., founded 1973 by Richard Novak, Doug Haut and Jay Shuirman) and Powell Peralta (founded 1978); Jim Phillips, who began in surfboard shops and surf magazines in the 1960s, was art director for Santa Cruz in the 1970s and 80s - Branch: Counterculture - Also known as: Skate graphics, Skateboard art, Deck art - Page: https://stylogeny.com/styles/skateboard-graphics/ ## How it works - Draw the image by hand in heavy ink outline and fill it with a few flat colours. - Compose for the tall vertical deck shape, with one bold figure filling the board. - Choose aggressive, humorous subjects such as monsters, skulls, hands and cartoon characters. - Repeat the brand logo on decks so a whole series reads as one product line. - Make each model a collectible variant of the same drawn graphic. ## Its design choices Defining choices make the style, characteristic ones are usual, occasional ones turn up now and then. ### Layout & composition - [Isolated object](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/isolated-object/) (defining) - [Dynamic asymmetry](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/dynamic-asymmetry/) (occasional) - [Full bleed](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/full-bleed/) (occasional) ### Space & hierarchy - [Single focal point](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/single-focal-point/) (defining) - [Repetition & rhythm](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/repetition-and-rhythm/) (occasional) - [Extreme scale contrast](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/extreme-scale-contrast/) (occasional) ### Typography - [Hand-lettering](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/hand-lettering/) (defining) - [All caps](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/all-caps/) (occasional) - [Tight setting](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/tight-setting/) (occasional) - [Condensed display](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/condensed-display/) (occasional) ### Colour - [Limited spot colours](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/limited-spot-colours/) (defining) - [Flat fields](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/flat-fields/) (defining) - [Complementary clash](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/complementary-clash/) (occasional) - [Fluorescent & neon](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/fluorescent-and-neon/) (occasional) ### Form & shape - [Distortion & exaggeration](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/distortion-and-exaggeration/) (defining) - [Stylised figuration](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/stylised-figuration/) (characteristic) - [Angular & zigzag](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/angular-and-zigzag/) (occasional) ### Surface & texture - [Flat](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/flat/) (characteristic) - [Hard offset shadow](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/hard-offset-shadow/) (occasional) ### Ornament - [Emblems & badges](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/emblems-and-badges/) (characteristic) - [Ornament-free](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/ornament-free/) (occasional) ### Imagery - [Line illustration](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/line-illustration/) (defining) - [Comic & cartoon](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/comic-and-cartoon/) (characteristic) - [Icons & pictograms](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/icons-and-pictograms/) (occasional) ### Medium & production - [Screen printing](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/screen-printing/) (defining) - [Pen, brush & ink](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/pen-brush-and-ink/) (defining) ### Tone & intent - [Rebellious & subversive](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/rebellious-and-subversive/) (defining) - [Playful & witty](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/playful-and-witty/) (characteristic) - [Ironic & self-aware](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/ironic-and-self-aware/) (occasional) - [Nostalgic & retro](https://stylogeny.com/design-choices/nostalgic-and-retro/) (occasional) Avoids: Central symmetry, Generous white space, Grotesque & neo-grotesque, Photocopy & distress, Rational & objective, Authoritative & institutional Palette: #e8202a, #111111, #f5d312, #f2ede0, #1e7fcb Typefaces: Santa Cruz logotype, hand-drawn by Jim Phillips (1978), Hand-lettered brand logos in thick outline Known for: Santa Cruz Skateboards (NHS, Inc., founded 1973); Santa Cruz logo, Jim Phillips (1978); Screaming Hand, Jim Phillips (1985); Powell Peralta (founded 1978) and its Bones Brigade team (team created 1979); Creature Skateboards (distributed by NHS) ## Where it comes from, and what it’s close to - Grew out of: [Underground Comix](https://stylogeny.com/styles/underground-comix.md) (1968–1982) - Alike in its design choices: [Cobi and Mariscal's Barcelona '92 Mascot Graphics](https://stylogeny.com/styles/barcelona-92-identity.md) (1987–1992), 72% alike - Alike in its design choices: [Atelier Populaire (May '68 Screenprint Poster)](https://stylogeny.com/styles/atelier-populaire.md) (1968), 68% alike - Alike in its design choices: [Bitterkomix (Afrikaans Underground Comics)](https://stylogeny.com/styles/bitterkomix.md) (1992–present), 66% alike - Alike in its design choices: [American Traditional Tattoo Flash](https://stylogeny.com/styles/american-traditional-tattoo-flash.md) (1900–present), 65% alike - Alike in its design choices: [Gráfica del 68 (Mexican Student Movement Graphics)](https://stylogeny.com/styles/grafica-68-mexico.md) (1968), 65% alike - Alike in its design choices: [Screenprinted Gig & Alt-Movie Poster](https://stylogeny.com/styles/screenprint-gig-poster.md) (1991–present), 64% alike ## Sources - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Cruz_Skateboards - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powell_Peralta - https://clubofthewaves.com/surf-artist/jim-phillips/ --- From Stylogeny (https://stylogeny.com/), an atlas of graphic-design styles by Van Riel Online Services. How it is made: https://stylogeny.com/about/. Cite as: Stylogeny, “Skateboard Deck Graphics”, https://stylogeny.com/styles/skateboard-graphics/