In Conversation With Tanner Boyes, Specter Design

Specter Designs - created by Tanner Boyes, artist, designer and craftsman hailing from San Clemente California - finds its focus in metal-craft, body work, car design, and customisation. Before his work led him into the automotive industry, Boyes had watched creativity come to life through apparel - an industry his father was closely connected to.

In something of a full circle moment Specter Designs and Deus cement a longstanding creative partnership with a limited edition capsule range - an ode to both brands' deep appreciation for craftsmanship and design principles that extend beyond the bounds of any one discipline or practice.

From a young age, creativity and fabrication have been natural companions of mine. I've had a difficult time describing and defining my creative activities throughout my life, but to some degree I find design, engineering and visual art to be branches sprouting from a broader tree which could be described as creative spirit.

It became clear to me at some point in my teenage years that cars are a great medium for creative expression. They stimulate both halves of my brain- the mechanical and visual. It wasn't long before I realized I wanted to create some ultimate expression of my creativity that satisfied my curiosity in the same multi faceted way. The idea for the car, and its espousing design studio developed from there.

I first became an admirer of Deus around 2008, I knew for a long time that I wanted to be involved with the brand in some way, and when the surprising opportunity arose to design a collection together in 2022 it was a no-brainer.

The automotive designs that captivate me the most have a very natural, and inspired quality to them. They seem to defy trends or constraints of their time. Defining it is difficult, but much credit would be lent to unfettered lines, thoughtful proportions, and purity of purpose within the design.

In my creative sphere, the work is evolving in parallel with my own taste and capabilities. At some point it becomes clear that developing an idea further is no longer improving it. I typically leave it alone at that moment.

I've embraced any and all tools that allow my creative process to flow naturally, in recent years CAD and rapid prototyping processes have contributed greatly to the development of my ideas - especially those that require a higher level of precision.