Getting to know Shane Borg
NO APPROVAL NEEDED
Some people build brands to appeal to everyone.
Shane Borg isn’t one of them.
Behind MD Productions is a bloke who’s spent years doing his own thing, making his own artwork and building a brand that reflects exactly who he is.
His work is loud. His opinions are blunt. And he’s not particularly interested in what everyone else is doing.
With a background in art, extreme motorsports and video production, Shane has built a world around his own interests rather than chasing whatever happens to be popular.
His screen printing journey started in someone else’s workshop before moving into his old man’s shed in 2014. More than a decade later, he’s still pulling prints on an old Jones Brothers hand carousel, making parody tees and keeping things pretty straightforward.
There’s no elaborate business philosophy here. No grand plans to take over the industry. And certainly, no attempt to please everyone.
In this month’s Behind The Mesh, we’re getting to know Shane Borg, the man behind MD Productions, and finding out what happens when you stop worrying about everyone else and concentrate on doing your own thing.
Let’s dive in.
Follow Shane on:
Website: https://www.livediefree.com/
Instagram: @mightdieshamis
About Shane
List 3 things about yourself – fun facts, hobbies, pets or interests
- Art and Creation
- Extreme Motorsports
- Video Production
Describe your screen printing journey. How and when did you get started and what has been your biggest learning experience?
I’ve had my own brand since I was 16 and did a few shirt runs back in the day using other screen printers.
Around 2012, I started working for a screen printer and spent a couple of years learning the craft and getting my head around a squeegee.
Eventually, that business went under, and I managed to get hold of some equipment.
I set up in my old man’s shed around 2014 and started doing my own thing.
Printing for mates’ businesses and my own brand.
That’s pretty much where it all started.
Tell us about your proudest screen printing project. What made it special and what did you learn from it?
After about 15 years?
It’s all pretty much the same stuff to me.
Industry
What are your thoughts on the current trends in screen printing? Do you see any emerging styles or techniques that excite you?
I’ve always been a fan of puff prints. Been using them for years, so it’s cool to see them coming back around.
One trend I’m definitely not into?
All the AI slop images people expect to see on a shirt these days.
NOPE.
What role does the online community play in your screen printing practice? How do you connect with other printers and share knowledge?
I sort of don’t get involved.
I’m pretty reclusive and tend to stay in my own lane.
I keep an eye on a few people, but for the most part, I just do my own thing.
Shop Floor
What is your most treasured product or piece of equipment on the floor that has made your life easier as a printer? Why?
I’m still using an old Jones Brothers 8-colour hand carousel.
And she still does the job.
I’ve just picked up a second one that I’ll be setting up soon.
Hopefully, that’ll make things run a bit smoother when things get busy.
What is on your wish list for your shop floor this year?
More Work….
Advice
What advice would you give to aspiring screen printers? What are the essential skills and qualities for success in this field?
If you don’t have a passion for art, you won’t last long.
Screen printing is hard, physical work.
You’re pulling a squeegee all day.
You’ve got to actually enjoy what you’re doing.
Bonus
Share a funny or unexpected mishap you’ve encountered while screen printing.
When there a Mishap….Aint no one laughing
What’s your go-to playlist for a productive printing session?
My playlist is Wild…From Limp Bizkit to Johnny Cash
What is the weirdest/funniest artwork you’ve had to print?
I print parody Tshirts for my own brand, which seems to get a bit a of giggle here n there…..
Conclusion
There’s something refreshing about someone who knows exactly what they want to do and doesn’t spend much time worrying about whether everyone else agrees.
Shane Borg isn’t trying to reinvent screen printing. He’s not chasing every new trend, comparing himself to other shops or pretending to have all the answers.
He’s got his own artwork, his own equipment and his own way of working. And after more than a decade of running MD Productions, that approach doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon.
Ask him about his equipment wishlist, and the answer is two words: More work.
Ask about printing mistakes, and nobody’s laughing.
Ask about the online community, and he’d rather stay in his own lane.
There’s no elaborate explanation behind any of it. That’s just Shane.
And perhaps that’s what makes his approach worth paying attention to.
In an industry where it’s easy to get caught up watching competitors, following trends and trying to appeal to every possible customer, Shane represents something different.
Authenticity doesn’t require everyone else’s approval.
You don’t have to follow the crowd, soften every opinion or build a brand that everybody understands.
Sometimes, knowing what you like, standing behind what you create and being comfortable with the fact that it won’t appeal to everyone is enough.
MD Productions is an extension of Shane himself. The artwork, the attitude, the humour and the refusal to follow someone else’s formula are all part of the package.
Some people will love it.
Others won’t.
And you get the feeling Shane couldn’t care less either way.
He’s got work to do.
That’s what sits behind the mesh.
