Tyrous Morris, aka Care.of, is a multidisciplinary artist who regards himself as a problem solver and jack of all trades. Most known for his graphic design, videography, art direction, and photography, Morris recently added product design to his resume for his brand "A Product Is Only As Useful As Its User". Launching this past January, his brand focuses on the connection between an object and its user and how the synergy between the two is dependent upon the artist themselves. Since launching, he has released products such as custom tape, pencils, and pens as the ultimate tool kit for any artist regardless of their art medium. When he is not glued to his computer creating mock-ups for his newest product design or creating the visuals for your favorite DMV musician, you can find Tyrous tending to his Banana Leaf Plant or pruning his Red Maranta Prayer Plant. We had the pleasure of hanging out with Tyrous and his plants and got to know more about what inspires his work and what his plants mean to him.
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WHO ARE YOU + WHAT DO YOU DO?
I’m a detailed-oriented multidisciplinary art director; who just so happens to be a descendent of displaced Africans in America.
I conceptualize/design/execute visuals for a myriad of artists in the US.
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TELL US ABOUT YOUR BRAND AND THE MESSAGING BEHIND IT.
“A Product Is Only As Useful As Its User”
Is foremost a brand yes, but also a conceptual space that allows me to digress from the mundanity of capitalism in the commercial world. The messaging is directly tied to an ideology that at its core is seeking to make people more self-sufficient. While also helping people identify where they live in the production/consumer cycle.
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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING YOU’VE CREATED?
Myself. I've dreamed of being me since I was a child. An alchemist of visual/industrial design. I re-create myself on a molecular level to achieve this goal. So it's a perpetual creating and dismantling. I am my favorite “noun” that I've created
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HOW DOES NATURE INFLUENCE YOUR WORK?
I believe the term is called biomimicry. This is a design style that uses ques from nature to propel practical design. its seen in the Japanese bullet train and the sculpting of its lead car into the likeness of a Kingfisher bird.
Personally I use The Fibonacci and color pallets from nature to design a lot of my work. The “Golden Ratio” / Fibonacci sequence can be found in nature everywhere. In the bone structure of humans and the growth structure of plants.
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WHAT DO YOUR PLANTS MEAN TO YOU?
My plants and I share a relationship beyond both our own respective lifespans. We are nature. I tend to them, they tend to me. its balance. My plants are an everyday reminder to persevere, to grow, and to know my role.
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WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Life and death inspire me. This seems so morbid but the beauty in that is we would not know how beautiful life is without losing it.
To know one day my time will be up invigorates me to make the time I have matter more. To dream my dream and love my people with all of me. I want to leave something greater than myself behind. So knowing every day that I'm still here and have a rare chance to fulfill that goal is inspiring.
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HOW DO YOU DISCONNECT + DECOMPRESS?
I disconnect from the outside world and dive into assessing my plants or spend a few hours at a District Flora greenhouse. I decompress by going on a bike ride or a quick yoga/meditation session.
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WHAT DO YOU DO TO KEEP YOUR MENTAL HEALTH INTACT?
So being honest I admittedly have problems here and will overwork/overextend myself mentally and physically with projects and “favors” for peers. I genuinely want to help everyone I can but have to remind myself often to just breathe and slow down. Mentally I can be in 6 different places at once so centering myself in my present actions or just stopping everything to give my mind a real chance to breathe is my fall back.
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WHAT DOES WELLNESS MEAN TO YOU?
Wellness is a mental state. Often we get caught up looking outside ourselves for validation of being. It all starts inside. Wellness is self-love.
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WHAT WOULD MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE?
Less fear more communication. At a core, these can fix most issues. Next time you look at something that makes you uncomfortable, first ask yourself why. Then assess those feelings objectively. Once you truly understand yourself you can better understand others and vice versa.
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WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU THIS YEAR?
MORE PLANTS! Even more projects. I've only begun my journey as an artist and I'm so thankful to be here in a space in which my peers look to me to create solutions for all of our well-being. Expect visuals of your favorite artists and a lens in which we all can use to understand ourselves better. I'm in the business of problem-solving.
