Q & A with Respectful Relationships author, Mat Jones

Mat Jones is more than just a sublimely talented illustrator, designer and interpreter of strength-based ideas, he’s part of the fabric of Innovative Resources (IR). For almost 20 years, his illustrations have graced some of our most iconic card sets and his designs are central to our branding and messaging.

His latest illustration project has been the reinvention of the classic card set Mates Traits (originally published in 2006), soon to be released as Respectful Relationships. With a fresh new look and colour palette, the set features 11 brand new cards and another 10 with updated wording.

The all-new Respectful Relationships will spark those important conversations about what makes great relationships tick, how we can model respectful relationships for our kids, and how diverse human relationships can be.

With Respectful Relationships due off the press at the end of November, we thought we’d take the opportunity to sit down with Mat and delve into his journey with Innovative Resources.

SOON: Tell us a bit about your background in illustration and design … have you always loved drawing?

Mat: As a kid, watching morning cartoons and reading comics, drawing and illustrating were always a constant. Suddenly, it’s the closing stages of Year 10 and I’m putting together a folio comprising illustration, line art, photos and a single piece of offset printed material—an A2 sized school calendar, all 100% hands-on, cut and paste. This happened a whole year before I would be introduced to an Apple Mac desktop computer.

The folio secured me a place at La Trobe University Bendigo, and the following three years were a blur of finished art production (film! bromides! paste-up!) with a healthy dose of drawing (pencils! conte! naked people!), photography (darkrooms! chemicals! film!), painting, air-brushing and other hands-on approaches to creating quality visual art. Eventually we were introduced to the new-fangled technology of the digital realm—computer generated art.

While computers have been a splendid tool for churning out art files in gangbuster style, I’ve been most fortunate throughout my years as a graphic designer to be able to grab a pen and draw pictures on demand (my party trick). Every studio I’ve ever been a part of has, at some stage, required illustrations created at the drop of a hat, drawn on an A4/A3 sheet of paper, scanned and given a digital makeover. It’s still more fun than a barrel of monkeys!    

SOON: You’ve had a long association with Innovative Resources … how did you first enter the IR orbit?

Mat: In the early 2000s, my then girlfriend (now wife) suggested I deliver some work samples to the place where her mum worked—a bookshop/publishing company that was crammed full of cool card sets, books, puppets … and other great stuff. Suddenly I found myself having a round-table discussion with the editorial team. As it turned out, a random illustration I’d presented of a quirky fish took their fancy, and I was asked to produce a few concept roughs for a picture book. I came away from that initial meeting feeling inspired and optimistic, and while the quirky fish concept never progressed, I was invited to submit a series of roughs for another project titled Mates Traits*.

*Recently re-imagined and revitalised as Respectful Relationships.

SOON: You’ve illustrated some iconic IR card sets, including Strength Cards for Kids, Body Signals, Cars ‘R’ Us, and the new Respectful Relationships cards … do you have a favourite project, or is it a bit like being a dad?

Mat: Yes, much like my relationship with my kids, those card sets are ‘all my favourite. Each and every project has been a privilege and a pleasure to contribute to. The development process continues to provide plenty of fabulous conversations and belly laughs.

SOON: What’s your process for creating characters and scenarios? For example, in Strengths Cards for Kids, how do you decide on a meerkat lifesaver, a lion reading in an armchair, or a rhino playing chess with a turtle?

Mat: Being a big fan of the natural world and having watched and consumed a lifetimes-worth of cartoons and comics, I have a stockpile of nature/critter/cartoon-based thoughts in my mind and simply thrash out concept illustrations at the drawing board. During the product development process, sitting at the round table with the team, tends to unleash a flurry of creative ideas from everybody which fly back and forth and result in cool outcomes like the lifesaving meerkats, or game-playing critters. 

SOON: What does your creative process look like? Do you start with pen and paper, or do you work digitally?

Mat: I continue to use traditional markers and paper, perched at a drawing board. The results of initial doodling are quickly scanned and given the digital treatment for review. Anywhere, anytime, I always have a notebook/marker tucked away in my bag in case sudden inspiration hits me, or something needs to be drawn quickly. 

SOON: You’ve been in the biz for over three decades now … what are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen?

Mat: Computers and design software have kicked-on in leaps and bounds. Once upon a time we gathered round an Apple Mac LC2 and swooned at the technology. Mobile phones and the internet have been quite a wild ride, with web-based design now occupying a far greater amount of my time. 

SOON: What do you love about working at Innovative Resources?  

Mat: Not only are the team at IR a fabulous bunch to rub shoulders with, but the opportunity to create and contribute to outstanding products never loses its appeal. Producing resources that reach a global audience and have the ability to start positive conversations and make a world of difference to a lot of people continues to be an absolute joy.