Local youth designs graphics for D.A.R.E. vehicle

Local youth designs graphics for D.A.R.E. vehicle

Ford Focus to be modified into custom D.A.R.E. car at Carlisle Custom Compact Nationals

CARLISLE, PA – Local teen Derek Robinson is doing his part to keep kids off drugs by donating his services to help transform an ordinary Ford Focus into a customized D.A.R.E. car for the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. Robinson’s company Creative Graphix is one of many businesses, local and national, that will help Carlisle Events modify the Focus at the Carlisle Custom Compact Nationals, May 2-4, 2003.

Robinson, a Boiling Springs freshman, runs Creative Graphix with co-owner Tim Hensley. Creative Graphix is located inside Sound Innovations, an automotive aftermarket accessories company owned by Derek’s father, Bill Robinson. The businesses can be found at 1412 Trindle Road in Carlisle. Bill, his wife Kim, and their son Derek all live in Carlisle.

Derek Robinson has plenty of ideas for what he’ll design for the Focus, but we’ll have to wait until he’s done to see what he decided on. He was thinking of a few “wild designs, a few more classy designs,” he said. “I have different ideas.” Robinson has a lot of creative freedom for the design, but he does have to include certain items on the Focus, such as the letters “D.A.R.E.” and the program’s mascot, Daren the lion.

At his business, Robinson is often given the opportunity to let his creative juices flow. “Some people come in with a specific idea,” he said, “and some let me use my creative freedom.” Robinson likes to design “pretty much anything,” he said, “wild designs on cars, Web sites, advertising.” Aside from the work at Custom Graphix, he does a lot of freelance work on his own.

“A lot of free time” was the reason Robinson gave for why he decided to start doing graphics. “I was into drawing a lot when I was younger, then I got into digital art, which led me here,” he said. He’s been designing graphics for about three years now.

As for why he’s donating his services for the D.A.R.E. car, Robinson thinks it’s for a good cause, and it will also help him out. “It’s another thing to put in my portfolio,” he said. However, he isn’t sure where he’s going to show off this portfolio. “I don’t really have any plans yet,” he said of his future. “Something to do with art or design, possibly design school.”

Although only 15 years old, Robinson already owns a 1998 Honda Civic that he’s put some vinyl graphics on, as well as lowered it and put on new wheels.

Carlisle Events, host of 10 collector car, truck and motorcycle events each year, attracted more than 518,000 people to the 82-acre fairgrounds in Carlisle, Pa., in 2002. Included in the annual schedule are two automotive swap meets and eight individual specialty shows featuring Corvettes, Fords, GMs, Chryslers, trucks, motorcycles, sport compacts and imports. Founded in 1974 by friends Bill Miller and Chip Miller, the “Cars at Carlisle” shows have attracted automotive enthusiasts from around the world.

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