Lane Cove Local Identity Justin Thomas – A Very Appy Guy

In the Cove would like you to meet award-winning app developer and Lane Cove local Justin Thomas.  There are so many talented, creative and entrepreneurial people living in Lane Cove and Justine Thomas is one of those creatives.

Justin has been an Art Director for over 20 years.  He has worked for some of the biggest publishing titles in the world (including News Corp).  We thought it was very timely to tell you about Justin (particularly when you see what is happening to traditional media roles, like photographers and journalists).

How did you become an award-winning App Developer?

I became an App Developer after seeing jobs in the print industry gradually getting less and less for Art Directors.  App developers come in all shapes and sizes so your skill-set can be different from job to job. I’m more an Interactive Art Director/Developer so I need to be able to design as well as know about creating the app framework.  

Tell Us About Your Award Winning App

I art directed and developed the QANTAS Magazine App for my client Medium Rare Content.  This app won the best app at the 2016 Publish Awards. The Publish Awards, organised by Mumbrella in association with Publishers Australia, honour the best in print and digital publishing across consumer and branded content in Australia.   Medium Rare was very excited about the app as it is the world first multi-award winning magazine app format.

Other than the QANTAS app, What Other Apps have you worked on?

I have worked on the Women’s Weekly mag app, Coles Mag app, Gourmet Traveller app and the YHA Australia app – to name a few.  You can check out the apps I have worked on here.

You Started out as a Graphic Designer/Art Director,  Do You prefer App Developing or  Graphic/Art Directing?

I’ve been a graphic designer for over 20 years now and have worked in many aspects of the industry. I’ve bounced from advertising to newspapers and magazines and now I’m spending a fair proportion of my time in the app design and development sector.  I still enjoy art directing and still do some great art directing projects.  For example, I designed a cookbook famous actor/author Paul Mercurio for my client Murdoch Books . The Cookbook photography was shot by Brett Stevens who is probably the best food photographer in Australia – if not the world.  You can see more of my work at justinthomasgraphicdesign.myportfolio.com

You are part of a creative power couple – Tell Us About Your Wife?

My wife is Anne Marie Cummins and she is the creative force behind FOOD TO FILM.

FOOD TO FILM produces high-quality creative content that can be adapted for all mediums to make brands stand out from the crowd.  FOOD TO FILM provide packages that include inspiring recipes, modern styling, world-class photography and video all developed by the food industry’s top professionals.

Anne Marie brings 20 years of experience as a magazine creative director, recipe writer, designer and publisher to bring clients fabulous recipes, images, video and words all individually tailored for their companies.

How Long Have You Lived in Lane Cove?

We have lived in Lane Cove for 8 years.  My wife and I were living in Paddington and had our first daughter Arkie there. We loved it but felt we needed more space if we were going to have more kids and ended up in Leafy Lane Cove.  Lane Cove has so many advantages.  Most cities in the world so close to the CBD do not have great parks and bushwalks.  Lane Cove people are friendly and we really like the village atmosphere.  It’s a terrific place to raise our two kids Arkie and Ryder.

What’s your favourite place in Lane Cove to Sip on a Coffee?

I really like the Junction (previously called Pablo & Rustys).

It’s great to see someone reinvent themselves to take advantage of new media.  Do you have a similar story?  If so please leave a comment below and we might contact you for an interview.