The Art Within Moto
Sam Morton and SKDA
It's not often in life that one's passions and aspirations align. When they do, the results can be something special. For SKDA Founder Sam Morton, the stars aligned when he combined two of his bigest passions in life - art and motorcycles.
Like many two-wheel fanatics, Morton grew up as an aspiring motocross racer in Australia, where he traveled to local and regional state races and even a few international events from his hometown of Adelaide. Grateful for the experience and support of his parents, Morton is happy his family used motocross to keep him focused and on the right track, to avoid falling into the wrong crowd and keep him out of trouble.
Morton also used motocross to help focus his mind. Diagnosed with ADHD and high sensitivity, he found the experience of riding motocross mentally calming and peaceful. Riding required razor-sharp focus, removed the noise in his head, and had a calming effect when his brain ran at 100 miles per hour, and he couldn't get out of his head. It was a beautiful and life-altering discovery at such a young age.
Throughout his motocross-filled youth, he continued to show interest in art. Often, when he was younger, he could be found tracing out photos of helmets and then drawing his own custom graphics on them. Never with any specific intent - simply for fun.
It wasn't until he was 18 that Morton's passions would collide and influence the rest of his life. It all started with an idea for a specific look for his dirt bike that he then created on a computer and took to a local company to have printed. Satisfied with his new design, he installed it on his bike without expecting anything to happen from the experience.
But a friend saw his bike and asked if he could make him a design, and a lightbulb went off in his head. It was a moment of synchronicity and clarity when he admitted feeling lost and stuck, not knowing his direction. He had always known he wanted to do something cool with his life, to justify his existence and reason for being. He just hadn't known what it was until that moment.
His idea was to create a dirt bike graphics company like no other, and in late 2009, Morton began building his brand. He initially came up with the name 'Sikness Designs' because, as he tells it, 'I was 18 and that was cool back then, and everything awesome was 'sick''
After a month, he had a Facebook page and his business was up and running. It wasn't long before friends began to place orders and the company grew organically
Along the way there were plenty of naysayers. Those who thought what he was doing was simply a waste of time. But for Morton, it was the period of his life where he committed to a cause that would turn out to be his destiny and the only thing he would ever want to focus on as a career
From grassroots to global brand
As his burgeoning graphics company grew and matured, Morton realized his chosen company name didn't appeal to a wide enough demographic. He wanted a more professional, less trendy name and landed on SKDA - an acronym for 'Sikness Designs Australia'. With the name settled, he moved on to a logo, creating an identity that resonated with his goals. With his branding objectives in place, Morton leaned into the SKDA name and launched a global brand.
Fourteen years since day one, the brand has become a market leader in the design and manufacture of motorcycle graphics. The company has single-handedly reset the bar for what a motorcross bike should look like, thanks to bold, clean designs that have elevated dirt bike visual aesthetics to an artistic level.
Collabs & Partners
T[he Art] Within Moto
Sam Morton and SKDA
It's not often in life that one's passions and aspirations align. When they do, the results can be something special. For SKDA Founder Sam Morton, the stars aligned when he combined two of his bigest passions in life - art and motorcycles.
Like many two-wheel fanatics, Morton grew up as an aspiring motocross racer in Australia, where he traveled to local and regional state races and even a few international events from his hometown of Adelaide. Grateful for the experience and support of his parents, Morton is happy his family used motocross to keep him focused and on the right track, to avoid falling into the wrong crowd and keep him out of trouble.
Morton also used motocross to help focus his mind. Diagnosed with ADHD and high sensitivity, he found the experience of riding motocross mentally calming and peaceful. Riding required razor-sharp focus, removed the noise in his head, and had a calming effect when his brain ran at 100 miles per hour, and he couldn't get out of his head. It was a beautiful and life-altering discovery at such a young age.
Throughout his motocross-filled youth, he continued to show interest in art. Often, when he was younger, he could be found tracing out photos of helmets and then drawing his own custom graphics on them. Never with any specific intent - simply for fun.
It wasn't until he was 18 that Morton's passions would collide and influence the rest of his life. It all started with an idea for a specific look for his dirt bike that he then created on a computer and took to a local company to have printed. Satisfied with his new design, he installed it on his bike without expecting anything to happen from the experience.
But a friend saw his bike and asked if he could make him a design, and a lightbulb went off in his head. It was a moment of synchronicity and clarity when he admitted feeling lost and stuck, not knowing his direction. He had always known he wanted to do something cool with his life, to justify his existence and reason for being. He just hadn't known what it was until that moment.
From grassroots to global brand
His idea was to create a dirt bike graphics company like no other, and in late 2009, Morton began building his brand. He initially came up with the name 'Sikness Designs' because, as he tells it, 'I was 18 and that was cool back then, and everything awesome was 'sick''
After a month, he had a Facebook page and his business was up and running. It wasn't long before friends began to place orders and the company grew organically
Along the way there were plenty of naysayers. Those who thought what he was doing was simply a waste of time. But for Morton, it was the period of his life where he committed to a cause that would turn out to be his destiny and the only thing he would ever want to focus on as a career
As his burgeoning graphics company grew and matured, Morton realized his chosen company name didn't appeal to a wide enough demographic. He wanted a more professional, less trendy name and landed on SKDA - an acronym for 'Sikness Designs Australia'. With the name settled, he moved on to a logo, creating an identity that resonated with his goals. With his branding objectives in place, Morton leaned into the SKDA name and launched a global brand.
Fourteen years since day one, the brand has become a market leader in the design and manufacture of motorcycle graphics. The company has single-handedly reset the bar for what a motorcross bike should look like, thanks to bold, clean designs that have elevated dirt bike visual aesthetics to an artistic level.
Today, Morton is more motivated than ever to add to the legacy he's created with SKDA Moto Creative. His quest for ultimate beauty in motocross continues. And because he believes what defines beauty is constantly changing, what is beautiful today may be entirely different a year from now, which makes it an infinite, ever-changing goal.
''Working with the best companies and riders in the world and creating beautiful bikes is all I've ever wanted. Working on something people see and appreciate around the planet is a pretty cool thing to be involved in. We're not manufacturing what isn't there. The art is there. The beauty is there. We're just locating it, bring it to the surface, and making it available. That's really our complete and total focus. To keep pushing towards ultimate beauty.'
Words by: Dale Spangler
Imagery by: Harrison Mark
T[he Art] Within Moto
Sam Morton and SKDA
It's not often in life that one's passions and aspirations align. When they do, the results can be something special. For SKDA Founder Sam Morton, the stars aligned when he combined two of his bigest passions in life - art and motorcycles.
Like many two-wheel fanatics, Morton grew up as an aspiring motocross racer in Australia, where he traveled to local and regional state races and even a few international events from his hometown of Adelaide. Grateful for the experience and support of his parents, Morton is happy his family used motocross to keep him focused and on the right track, to avoid falling into the wrong crowd and keep him out of trouble.
Morton also used motocross to help focus his mind. Diagnosed with ADHD and high sensitivity, he found the experience of riding motocross mentally calming and peaceful. Riding required razor-sharp focus, removed the noise in his head, and had a calming effect when his brain ran at 100 miles per hour, and he couldn't get out of his head. It was a beautiful and life-altering discovery at such a young age.
Throughout his motocross-filled youth, he continued to show interest in art. Often, when he was younger, he could be found tracing out photos of helmets and then drawing his own custom graphics on them. Never with any specific intent - simply for fun.
"He had always known he wanted to do something cool with his life, to justify his existence and reason for being. He just hadn't known what it was until that moment"
It wasn't until he was 18 that Morton's passions would collide and influence the rest of his life. It all started with an idea for a specific look for his dirt bike that he then created on a computer and took to a local company to have printed. Satisfied with his new design, he installed it on his bike without expecting anything to happen from the experience.
But a friend saw his bike and asked if he could make him a design, and a lightbulb went off in his head. It was a moment of synchronicity and clarity when he admitted feeling lost and stuck, not knowing his direction. He had always known he wanted to do something cool with his life, to justify his existence and reason for being. He just hadn't known what it was until that moment.
His idea was to create a dirt bike graphics company like no other, and in late 2009, Morton began building his brand. He initially came up with the name 'Sikness Designs' because, as he tells it, 'I was 18 and that was cool back then, and everything awesome was 'sick''
After a month, he had a Facebook page and his business was up and running. It wasn't long before friends began to place orders and the company grew organically
Along the way there were plenty of naysayers. Those who thought what he was doing was simply a waste of time. But for Morton, it was the period of his life where he committed to a cause that would turn out to be his destiny and the only thing he would ever want to focus on as a career
As his burgeoning graphics company grew and matured, Morton realized his chosen company name didn't appeal to a wide enough demographic. He wanted a more professional, less trendy name and landed on SKDA - an acronym for 'Sikness Designs Australia'. With the name settled, he moved on to a logo, creating an identity that resonated with his goals. With his branding objectives in place, Morton leaned into the SKDA name and launched a global brand.
Fourteen years since day one, the brand has become a market leader in the design and manufacture of motorcycle graphics. The company has single-handedly reset the bar for what a motorcross bike should look like, thanks to bold, clean designs that have elevated dirt bike visual aesthetics to an artistic level.
'I don't like being seen as just a sticker company, because we're not that. I'm not that. I'm here to create beautiful motorcycles. These amazing things that we ride. For people who are really into it and feel the earth, love being in nature and appreciate alone time. Our brand resonates with people who understand what we're trying to do - add beauty to this industry and make works of art'
Today, Morton is more motivated than ever to add to the legacy he's created with SKDA Moto Creative. His quest for ultimate beauty in motocross continues. And because he believes what defines beauty is constantly changing, what is beautiful today may be entirely different a year from now, which makes it an infinite, ever-changing goal.
'Some people deem success at face value, having a lot of money, or doing well in business,' reflects Morton. 'But I don't see it like that. I do enjoy seeing SKDA under the shining lights, but I don't need it to be my name. Working with the best companies and riders in the world and creating beautiful bikes is all I've ever wanted. Working on something people see and appreciate around the planet is a pretty cool thing to be involved in. We're not manufacturing what isn't there. The art is there. The beauty is there. We're just locating it, bring it to the surface, and making it available. That's really our complete and total focus. To keep pushing towards ultimate beauty.'
Words by: Dale Spangler | VAHNA
Imagery by: Harrison Mark
Full story appears in VAHNA Magazine Summer 2024. Click here to shop
FAQ Guide
Today, Morton is more motivated than ever to add to the legacy he's created with SKDA Moto Creative. Because he believes what defines beauty is constantly changing, what is beautiful today may be entirely different a year from now, which makes it an infinite, ever-changing goal.
'Some people deem success at face value, having a lot of money, or doing well in business,' reflects Morton. 'But I don't see it like that. I do enjoy seeing SKDA under the shining lights, but I don't need it to be my name. Working with the best companies and riders in the world and creating beautiful bikes is all I've ever wanted. Working on something people see and appreciate around the planet is a pretty cool thing to be involved in. We're not manufacturing what isn't there. The art is there. The beauty is there. We're just locating it, bring it to the surface, and making it available. That's really our complete and total focus. To keep pushing towards ultimate beauty.'
Words by: Dale Spangler | VAHNA
Imagery by: Harrison Mark
Full story appears in VAHNA Magazine Summer 2024. Click here to shop
