Today we’d like to introduce you to Mason Barry.
Mason, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Warrensburg, Missouri, always making stuff as a kid. Drawing, clay, running around outside, just building things out of whatever was in front of me. School never was my thing, but I managed to get into UCM, stuck it out, and graduated in 2018 with a double major in graphic design and illustration.
Right after graduating I took a job at a small advertising startup in Lenexa that focused on senior living and hospice clients. It was a good first step, but I knew I did not want to do senior living ads forever. So I started teaching myself 3D animation to level up my portfolio. That work helped me land a role as lead animator at Whiskey Design, where I spent a couple years really sharpening my craft. From there I was able to negotiate a retainer with them as a freelancer, which gave me enough stability to step out on my own and build Barry Creative as a freelance design & animation studio.
That freedom allowed me to explore other interests, which eventually turned into Bonk Supply, which I started out of my house and grew into a full clothing brand and storefront in Kansas City. Now, I split my time between Barry Creative, Bonk, and a new side project with my dad called Bastion, where we are designing a folding knife and, of course, building the brand behind it from scratch. The short version is, I keep following the things I am curious about, and then build them until they become real.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
So yeah, challenges are just part of the ride. Going out on your own is pretty intimidating at first, especially when you haven’t done it before. There’s a ton to learn on the business side figuring out money, understanding how to actually run things, and just tackling problems as they come. It can look kind of scary & overwhelming from the outside, but you just take it day by day. Eventually you start trusting the process, and you keep pushing forward. And honestly, once you get the hang of that, you realize you can pretty much do anything if you just give it enough time and focus.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
So right now, I’d say I’m mostly known for my 3D design and animation work that’s a big part of what people connect with me on. And then there’s Bonk, where I’m designing clothes, doing the branding, and running that whole show. If you ask folks now, that’s probably what they’d link me to first. But if you knew me growing up, you’d probably just remember me as the weird art kid, always doing something off the wall. So I guess I’ve just leaned into that and made it my thing.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is really just making the most out of this short life. I’m here to create cool, unique experiences and things that add value, that delight people, and just make life a bit brighter for everyone around. I’m all about learning as much as I can and passing it on to others. At the end of the day, I just want to create something that’s worth living for and makes everyone’s journey a little more fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://BonkSupply.com
- Instagram: Bonk_co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Bonk-Supply/61555805597813/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbarry111/
