Ugmonk began in 2008 as an entrepreneurial experiment by Jeff Sheldon, a recent college graduate with a passion for typography and minimal design. This past August, the company celebrated its 4th year anniversary, and over the years, Jeff has seen his brand grow and his product line diversify, all while receiving positive feedback from the design community. It is undoubtedly Ugmonk’s commitment to creating high-quality, unique items with simple, fresh graphics that has attracted customers. Ugmonk sells it’s products globally online, in addition to a number of small shops and boutiques who carry the items in-stores.
Below is just a sampling of the Ugmonk products we love. Check out their online store to view a full selection of items, and follow the Ugmonk blog where you can stay in the know on new products and designs. In the VSCO office, you’ll find us using Ugmonk notebooks and wearing their t-shirt designs. Companies like Ugmonk, who are constantly striving to create and deliver excellence, inspire us.
Jeff shot the following images and used VSCO Film to process them.
Ugmonk’s design style is minimal, bold, and typographic. While there is some variation of style throughout the line, everything shares these same overarching principles which gives the brand a cohesive feel.
What type of person do you envision wearing your shirts?
When I first launched Ugmonk I thought my main customer base would be mostly designers and typography geeks like me. Little did I realize how much broader of an audience the brand would appeal to. Anyone who appreciates a minimal, clean style and the craft that is put into each design can understand what Ugmonk is all about. It’s more than just tshirts, it’s a mindset.
Work really hard and be nice to people. I think one of the biggest misconceptions about what it takes to run a successful business is the amount of time and dedication it takes to not only create quality products but also create a great overall experience. Thankfully we live in a day and age where the internet has made it easier than ever to launch a business, but it can also make it appear simpler than it really is. There’s so many little details to consider beyond just designing cool products such as customer service, product photography, packaging, website experience, fulfillment and shipping, inventory management and so much more.
Another key thing that I’ve learned is how important it is to just be nice to people and treat them the same way you’d want to be treated. I love that we have the ability to communicate directly with customers and are able to build a community around our brand. Starting Ugmonk has opened so many doors and given me the opportunity to connect with so many awesome people around the world, whom I otherwise never would have had contact with. I’m incredibly thankful for the journey that Ugmonk has taken me on and am excited to see what lies ahead.