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Whether you grew up in Austin, just moved here, or are simply visiting for a weekend, chances are you’ve seen Chase Meyer’s work. Meyers is the designer behind the iconic “atx” sign outside of the flagship Whole Foods store, located at the intersection of 5th and North Lamar. This colorful, functional sculpture has become a symbol for Austin in recent years, and it’s one of the most recognizable and photographed pieces of street art in the city.
Meyers was raised in Austin but left for college to study industrial design, a term that describes the combination of art, design, and architecture. After he graduated, he came back to Austin and began his career at Ion Art, the prolific Austin design company behind so many of the unique signs we enjoy throughout the city. When Whole Foods reached out to Ion Art to change their sign in 2017, Meyers was assigned as the lead designer on the project.
The process of creating and executing the “atx” design happened quickly, but there were a lot of decisions that went into the project. Whereas their first sign only touted the company name, Whole Foods wanted to use their second sign to pay homage to the city that helped them grow. They settled on “atx” even though it wasn’t a common nickname for Austin at the time, and the sign could be part of the reason why this acronym is pervasive today.
Meyers chose to make the sign colorful and interactive to reflect Austin’s diversity, acceptance, and tolerance. Some of Meyer’s favorite things about Austin include its laid-back vibe, the fact that it’s a family-friendly city without being too sanitized, and that there’s something for everyone. “Everyone is nice and welcoming,” Meyers explains. “People are coming [to Austin] from all walks of life, and [they] can find [their] people here… there’s a lot less judgment than in other cities.”
The combination of functionality and creativity in Meyers’ work also reflects a mindset that is uniquely Austin: we work hard, and produce good work, but we aren’t stuffy about it. You can show up to a meeting in flip flops and casual clothes and not be judged, as long as your work is still high quality. Another one of Meyers’ recognizable contributions exemplifies this attitude perfectly — the Jackalope sculpture on North Lamar. It stands more than 18 feet tall, making it the unofficial world record holder for tallest Jackalope sculpture in the world.
Some of Meyers’ favorite Austin hangs during the hotter months include Lake Travis, Barton Springs, and any of our creeks. He also enjoys the different festivals we host, from SXSW to Eeyore’s Birthday, supporting Austin FC, and hitting up happy hours. “No city embraces the happy hour like Austin,” Meyers laughs.
As an Austin native who has since left to live in other cities, Meyers admits he’s always struck by how much the city changes between visits. But, despite an evolving skyline, new businesses, and a lot more traffic, Meyers says, “It’s really cool to come back and see that [Austin] still has that energy, and it still has its own sense of cool, and the art is still [here].”
With international festivals, a football club, and more companies moving here every year, Meyers is excited for Austin’s future. “I think [Austin] will transform the [new] people to the town,” Meyers says, and he’s confident that, like the Jackalope sculpture and the “atx” sign, we’ll never lose the things that make our city special.
Listen to the full episode for more insight into Chase’s artistic process, some Austin trivia, and great food recs!
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