Interview & Giveaway: Sensitive Boyfriend

Sensitive Boyfriend is Drus Dryden, based in Auckland, he's been making and designing awesome stuff (badges, pillowcases and such) for ages while being witty and charming all at the same time. Here is a wee interview with him...

How long have you been creating your work?

We’ve been going steady for about three years.

What made you start creating your work?

My career was in shreds, and love life in tatters, and one day I must have decided that if I combined the two, less would be more. I was also started a masters, and having to choose a subject helped. I ended up writing a book about infatuation, and then realised that all my ideas were about feelings and relationships. Before that I’d written a book about looking for a job. The idea was that if someone saw that I was able to write a book about looking for a job, they might give me one. But that didn’t happen, so I just followed my advice at the conclusion of the book and kept working for myself.

Dreamer pillow case sets

Where does the Sensitive boyfriend name come from?

It just came into my head. Later I realised that when I worked at a magazine, where the editors described themselves as Bossy boyfriend, and Romantic boyfriend. So it’s probably from there.

What has been your biggest challenge to date?

Biggest challenge to date? Madelame, what a nightmare. Eventually I just had to stop doing that to myself. It’s a little bit further away every day. Most thrilling? Emelie. Best conversationalist? Rebecca. Sweetest? Becs.

If you could give fellow creatives a pearl of wisdom, what would that be?

I wish I could give them real pearls, for when times get tough. When I got made redundant once, my (dick) boss said that ‘good things come from adversity.’ Quite a few bad things too, but isn’t that how pearls are made — pressure on grit? Still, I think there’s a difference between things you need to put up with, and things you don’t. Don’t take any shit — or get out before it gets too bad. There’s something called the ‘Concorde fallacy’, when you’ve invested so much into something that isn’t working, that you don’t want to cut your losses. Learn from it, and change, or start again. Otherwise, some advice I like: to try a lot of different things in your twenties. Some advice I’d like to take: work on

my weaknesses as much as my strengths.

Describe your studio space?

I sometimes like to work from bed. This is the motivational banner that leaps me up in the morning.

Drus' motivational banner (I want one!)

Because Drus is super generous, he sent me some 'Fox' badges as a little present recently. I asked him if it would be ok for me to share one as a giveaway — and he said yes! If you would like to win a red Fox badge, simply visit his online store and comment below, telling us your favourite item for one entry. For a second entry, tweet or share this post on Twitter or Facebook (make sure you tag Foxes Blog so I know!).

Competition is open internationally, closes in 2 weeks on Saturday 27th October at 5pm. Winner will be chosen at random.