ABOUT / NICK YARGER
A designer’s eye.
A creative director’s perspective.
I’m Nick Yarger, a creative director and designer connecting brand thinking with hands-on craft.
01 / THE ROOTS
Raised on surf, skate,
and a need to make things.
I was born in Santa Monica and grew up in Encinitas, when it still felt like a small surf town. Surfing, skateboarding, and the graphics on boards and clothing were part of everyday life. They became some of my earliest creative influences.
My dad lived on a sailboat, so I spent much of my childhood on the water. When I wasn’t surfing, I was drawing tropical fish, painting ocean scenes, and filling sketchbooks. Long before I understood what a designer did, I knew I wanted to make a living drawing and painting.
On the water / Early days
From the family album
02 / THE PATH
From apparel graphics
to the whole brand.
That interest took me to ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, where I studied graphic design and illustration. My career began at JNCO Jeans and NATCO before bringing me back to surf through Quiksilver.
Over more than six years at Quiksilver, I learned to think beyond an individual graphic: how to build a collection, understand its customer, and make everything work together. Roles at Billabong, Rip Curl, and Howe followed, including a Bob Marley capsule developed with members of the Marley family.
Will Leather Goods brought me to Eugene, Oregon, and expanded my work across brand identity, products, photography, and retail. I later led creative at Ninkasi Brewing and became a partner at Revolution Design Group, working with natural food and beverage brands on identity and packaging.
03 / THE WORK TODAY
Still curious.
Still making things.
Today, I run Manifest Creative, working alongside longtime collaborator Wade Long. I bring more than 20 years of experience to apparel, food, beverage, and lifestyle brands through creative direction, brand identity, packaging, illustration, and apparel graphics.
I enjoy both setting the direction and getting into the details. Whether I’m working with a founder, a marketing team, or other creatives, I care about the idea, the craft, and how the finished work becomes part of someone’s life.
AWAY FROM THE DESK
Room to roam.
Camping in my Airstream and traveling are two of the things I enjoy most about life in Oregon. I love getting outside, exploring new places, and making time for a change of scenery. The connection to the outdoors that started in Encinitas is still a big part of who I am.
Those trips also feed Pacific Made Co., my own apparel brand. I photograph the places the Airstream takes me and turn them into illustrated tees: places worth taking with you.
Airstream campsite.
Hiking above the Yosemite Valley.
A graphic someone wears for years.
A package they recognize across the aisle.
A brand they feel part of.
That’s the kind of work I want to make.