Makers In Action: Meet Working Member Zach Yarrington

August 23, 2011

Zach was ADX’s very first intern. He joined us without any experience in a shop environment and within weeks was already tackling projects all by himself. He was eager to learn, unafraid, and willing to learn from everyone around him. Now his role at ADX is as Working Member, and he’s a perfect example of what we’re looking to achieve: connecting aspiring makers of all experience levels with paid work.

Name: Zach Yarrington
Occupation: Freelance designer and maker

What’s your expertise and how many years of experience are under your belt?
Typically I spend my time working on graphic design and fabrication projects. I’ve been drawing since I can remember. I used to spend summers back in the Detroit area doing mason work…but not any of the masonry, just the cleaning up! That’s where I learned to throw a hammer. As far as design goes, I started in the UO Digital Arts program back in 2007 and that’s when I started taking it seriously as a potential career.

What led to your passion for creating? Have you always been a maker in some fashion?
I have always drawn fairly well, and I was studying business — thinking “Well, I’ve got to do something” It didn’t take long to realize that it wasn’t for me. I always took art classes as a fun thing on the side and really enjoyed them. I don’t really know when it happened but I started really focusing on it. Creating is what I want to do with my life.

What led you to ADX and why are you involved there?
I was working in a print shop at the UO when i met a PSU graphic design student, Elizabeth, who was really enthusiastic about ADX. While we were talking about the need for a supportive creative community, she mentioned that ADX needed interns and asked if I was into making stuff. She put me in contact and I met with Eric & Kelley. I was looking for an internship at that point and it fell into place. Eric talked about welding the first time we met and that really turned me on. The first thing I made was the desks for the Gang of Ten office space. All the projects we worked on during my internship were really fun.

Now that my internship is over, I have been helping out with ADX projects as a paid contractor, specifically the Step Van renovation into a cupcake cart. I’ve always kind of known that graphic design is stressful, but since being here, I realize I like working with my hands, getting a little dirty, messing things up. The metal shop was a new experience and I really fell in love with working with metal — something I hadn’t done before interning at ADX.

Tell us about the sign project.
I did an extra year at Portland’s UO campus and did a lot of lettering. A lot of that inspiration came from signage. There are so many old signs around Portland and I wanted to fabricate my own: was it even possible to do? The sign was an installation in a gallery show at the White Box — part of the BFA final exhibition. Everyone here helped make it happen.

There were a lot of naysayers outside of the ADX walls. But when I talked about it here, nobody really batted an eye. Everyone here was super helpful about ideas, how to make it work, etc. I took a lot of different forms. There was a lot of trading and bartering to get it done: I had my time at ADX to use the tools. Eric lent the light fixtures. Tyler helped me weld parts of it in exchange for helping build lights for his new tattoo shop, so it was a fun experience making it. Mike taught me how to figure the electrical components. In a way, it was a kind of collaborative effort.

Do you have any specific projects in the works?
I have a lot of ideas for projects. I really want to fabricate a custom tandem bike…which will hopefully happen before I leave for Germany to pursue some opportunities in construction.

What significance does collaboration have in your creative process?
A very big significance! I think in any creative process bouncing ideas off people and the more minds that you put into any project the better it is. That goes the same whether it’s in music, or graphic design, it’s a very important part of creating.

What’s your dream project you’d fabricate/design/build if you had the skills and materials at your fingertips?
My dream project would be to restore something like an old Cadillac. I know some things, but definitely couldn’t tackle that sort of project yet.

To learn more about Zach, visit his website.