A CONVERSATION WITH CHRIS "SHUEY" SCHULSTAD

Did you play any sports growing up, other than Surfing?

“I played Rugby a lot, and that’s actually how I got my nickname ‘Shuey.’ My coach couldn’t pronounce my last name Schulstad, and he just gave up trying to pronounce it and started calling me ‘Shuey,’ and that’s just stuck ever since.”

When did you start getting into style and design?

“The design part actually started from a very young age, my grandmother was filipino, and when she moved to Australia she set up a pattern room in her garage. I was always in and out of there playing with her machines and experimenting with different things.” 

What were you doing before you started working at Banks?

“I worked for a brand called Brothers Nielsen working on the floor in the surf shops. I ended up doing some buying, and while I was doing buying for the shops I started taking night classes for graphic design, after studying graphic design I went to a university to study multi media advertising. While I was doing that some of my friends were working at Von Zipper. George Henderson was heading up Von Zipper at the time, and I asked him if I could come and intern just to lean about the industry. After about 6 months of interning I had a job at Von Zipper, and ended up working there for like 2 years. After 2 years at Von Zipper they ended up moving their office to Sydney, and they told me I didn’t have a job…”

How did you get started with Banks?

“I just got back from a strategy meeting in Hawaii and I got a phone call from Rama, who is the co-founder and CEO, and he goes ‘we would like to have a chat with you and they’re might be an opportunity for you here at Banks.’ Banks has only been around for like 2 years at the time. And he said that he was looking for a head designer. I have been with Billabong for 10 years at the time and just sort of out grew it. I wanted to start getting new challenges.”

Any advice to future designers?

“Working hard, putting your hand up sometimes, do the intern kind of thing, and learn as much as you can. Like I was saying before it’s important to be authentic and true to yourself, and don’t sell yourself short.”

to listen to the full interview and more episodes of l8night with choccy click here

Photos by: @jeremyknies