2 Comments Written by Krystal Schultheiss on September 9, 2010 – 8:55 am

Grab a drink, chill for five while you meet the creator-saurus of the best ever freakin’ design mag: Wooden Toy. Also a speaker at our much loved, ever hailed design conference, Semi-Permanent .

Stand clear lumber jackers here comes the TIIIIMMMMMBAAAA (Smits)…

What was you first job (paid or unpaid)?
Classic, here’s a weird one for ya’ll. I absolutely loved my first job. It’s quite different from what I’m doing now but it’s one of my favourite memories and my favourite job I ever had (apart from what I’m doing now of course). I was 16, finishing year 10 at high school and had to find work experience placement. But, because I left it until the last minute I couldn’t find any graphic studios that had the space or time for me. Typical, as this is what I really wanted to get into. Now, as embarrasing as it is to write, mum jumped in (as all good mums do) and helped me to find something just in the nick of time. Although at first I thought the job to be absolutely ridiculous, it ended up becoming my part-time job over the next 2 years. My official title was ‘incubation assistant’ at an Emu farm in Balnarring which is farming area close to Melbourne.

In a nut shell, my job was to help baby emus hatch from their eggs and raise them until they were old enough to go out into the yards with the older emus.They would hatch out and the first thing they would see was me, so automatically they thought I was their mum. Next thing you know I’d have 50 little 10cm, mini dinosaurs following me around everywhere for the next few weeks (until the next lot would hatch)…

Why did you start the Wooden Toy magazine?
In the beginning I co-founded Wooden Toy with Chris Meyer who was a friend of my older brothers who had just returned from living and working in the UK. Like me, Chris was looking for that ‘next step’ so we discussed the idea of starting something together by combining my colouring-in skills with his writing skills. Eventually, after a few weeks of mucking about we landed on the idea of starting a free ’skate culture’ magazine. At the time Wooden Toy started, there was nothing really like it and we were frustrated at the lack of design focus on most of the free street mags. We thought ‘why not make something that looks like a paid-for magazine but we give it away free?’. Crazy I know! But just because it was free why should it look free we thought? Also, I’m a big advocate of saving paper. I used to hate that once you read these free magazines they weren’t worth keeping. This spurred Wooden Toy to always be something that you would want to keep and never throw out for fear of losing millions of dollars on ebay one day when they become famous. Ha!

Shortly after edition 5, Chris left Wooden Toy and I continued to grow it into the publication it is today. Which is pretty much an incredibly designed catalog of everything and everyone that is of inspiration to others: Including features on artists, designers and photographers to surfboard shapers and Hot Rod builders. It’s also a passion of mine to help others and to be viewed as a publication that is responsible for giving chance to some pretty talented folk. Always different, always evolving, it’s safe to say Wooden Toy is where it’s at if you’re into art and shit. Wooden Toy for life yo!

At the moment is Wooden Toy the project you are focusing on the most ?
At the moment yes. It’s all that I’m working on, well, aside from a small number of client projects that I’m just finishing up. It’s launch time for edition 7 right now so it’s around the clock at the moment. Most of the time though it’s a mix of working on Wooden Toy and other projects including work for my clients or various exhibitions.

Which is you favorite edition of Wooden Toy mag?
It’s always the next one. I like to up the ante with each and every edition I work on, so whenever I finish a new edition I always think it’s the best.From time to time famously quoting “the other editions are pants compared to this one”. I’m also very hard on myself, putting my body and mind through some serious pain to get each one right (this is something i’m trying to work on however). The latest edition has over 500 hours put into it for example. Probably seems crazy to some, but seems necessary to me . I’m my own worst enemy it seems, but it’s very worth it in the end.

You recently won the British Council ‘Realise Your Dream Awards.’ How was England?
England is amazing. I’m living and working out of London for the moment and the award is opening some amazing doors for me. I like to compare the transition to England like the local swimming pool back when I was a kid. First you start out in the little pool to learn and get your confidence up before jumping into the big pool with the big kids. It’s scary, it’s exciting and you have to learn quickly. London is definitely the big pool! The only problem I face is how do you go back to the little pool?

Are you still based in Melbourne or do you feel like after your trip from England that you prefer to lead the gypsy working life between Melbourne and England?
I’ve already been back 2 times this year which has been exciting coz I cussing love planes! And it’s a long flight. Being on a plane seems to be the only break my brain ever gets so I enjoy the 24 hour flights. For now I’m loving the London life so I’ll be there for a while I think. I left in February and have been there all year. For how long? Who knows, but home is always where the heart is and so yes, I’ll be that gypsy guy for the next while I think.

Right now I’m in Melbourne for edition 7 launches, Semi-Permanent and a few exhibitions so it’s busy times for the next month. In fact, I’m writing this interview in my brothers backyard mechanic shed surrounded by oily cars and a wall of porn. Classic.

What next for Timba Smits?
Well, the first launch of Wooden Toy outside of Australia is planned for October in London.  I’m looking forward to that. Aside from this lots of things, but a good chef never gives his secrets away so you’ll just have to wait and see. Sorry to be a big tease but that’s how I roll. All I can say is it’s going to be HUGE. It’s funny, I’ve been at this for a while now but i feel like my career is only just starting. I sense I’m at a very exciting stage and I’m loving every minute of it. Keep posted to my websites for cool happenings.