GOOD FOLK #10: SHIN TANAKA ///

Meet Shin Tanaka, graffiti artist and paper toy creator from japan. Starting with paper models of sneakers he has created a great variety of paper toys and made them accessible for customization so everybody can create their own paper toy goodness. There is a huge gallery of customized toys from people all over the world and special releases of his toy the Spike Baby here on his website. After shin created his toys for companies as Nike, Nooka, Adidas and many more he is now getting even deeper into the toy business. Read on to find out what the paper master from japan is up to next.

GOOD FOLK #8: DUANE KING ///

With a unique style and approach that is emblematic of a new generation of graphic designers, Duane King has been developing design solutions for top brands for over a decade. King joined Focus2, a Dallas-based brand development group, in 1998 where his innovative approach to analyzing and solving creative challenges achieved notable results. In 2005, he went on to found BBDK with Bob Borden. King’s technical knowledge and passion for “wondering why” gives his work an originality that has been recognized by Graphis, The 100 Show, I.D. Magazine, Communications Arts, Print and HOW Magazine. Among his clients: MoMA, Bloomingdale’s, Luigi Bormioli, Nambé, Orrefors, Kosta Boda, Neiman Marcus, Herman Miller, Northrop Grumman, Activision, Sega, id Software and FootAction USA.

Duane is the founder of Thinking for a Living™ an ever-growing platform dedicated to the concept of open source design education.

GOOD FOLK #7: Matteo Bologna ///

Matteo Bologna is the founder and President of New York-based Mucca Design Corporation, where he also serves as Creative Director. Born and raised in Milan, Italy, Matteo’s grounding in architecture, graphic design, illustration and typography facilitated his early business successes and inspired his decision to create a New York agency.

GOOD FOLK #6: Atsuko Tanaka ///

 

ATSUKO TANAKA

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? 

Tokyo, Japan.

WHAT DOES YOUR WORK CONSIST OF? 

Taking pictures, editing, retouching and sometimes finding models and locations

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED? 

After I graduated college in L.A., I moved to NY.  I brought my book to some music magazines to get some work.  One magazine liked my work and they started giving me opportunities to shoot 

those Hip Hop artists that I had dreamed of.  I think I was very fortunate.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT WHAT YOU DO? 

That I can leave “the moment” in the photo and it’ll live forever.

WHAT IS THE WORST THING ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?

Carrying heavy equipments.

IF YOU WEREN’T _________, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING? 

Who knows?  I can’t think of it.  I’ll think about it when I stop doing it.  I’m just thankful that I’m still doing this.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? 

Everything I feel through my senses.

WHERE DOES CREATIVITY COME FROM? 

I think it comes from my feelings, experience and imagination.  Everything I had experienced whether it’s good or bad, it stays in my brain and body.  Even I’m not conscious of most of the stuff, it’s in me and sometimes I picture images and get ideas that I think are come from those(my feelings, experience and imagination).

WHO’S WORK DO YOU LOOK UP TO? 

I respect anybody who’s hard worker and successful at what he or she does.  For photographers, I like Solve Sundsbo, Annie Leibovitz, Anthony Ward, Craig McDean and etc..there are so many.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR INDUSTRY? 

There will be no papers, cameras are getting cheaper, anybody can take pretty good pictures…I hope I”m still surviving somehow.  Only God knows…

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU NEXT? 

I’m working on my own projects.  I hope people will like it and  have a book of my work published.  

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD ASPIRING TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? 

Being passionate about what you do, open yourself to others, try to do different things and have lots of experience, work hard and never give up(I think that’s the hardest thing, not giving up)!

ONE DEFINING MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR. 

I think it was when I shot  Mr. Takeshi Kitano because we were surrounded by so many people and that made me soooo nervous.  I didn’t have much experience at that time.

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? 

Right now, nothing…because I was seriously thinking about your questions….

 

Thanks to the big hommie QUE of Peace Denim for connecting us with Atsuko!

GOOD FOLK #1 QUE of PEACE DENIM CO. / PROPER VILLAINS COLLECTIVE ///

 

QUE of PEACE DENIM CO. / PROPER VILLAINS COLLECTIVE 

 

-WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

Born in Brooklyn/Raised in NewJersey/Inspired in Japan

 

-WHAT DOES YOUR WORK CONSIST OF? 

European Inspired Military(Mostly German Wool/Swiss Officer Jackets/Russian Wool Overcoats & fur Hats/Scarves) Hand screened in Japan Tees

 

-HOW DID YOU GET STARTED? 

For 8 years I owned the 1st Urban Boutique in NewJersey Underground Apparel.I got bored of the oversized white tee trend,so instead of complaining about it I decided to learn how to design clothing properly.I was lucky enough to meet Mosi Yamada & Megumi Kaneko and we started our underdog brand PeaceDenimCo. and dedicated ourselves to exclusivity & craftsmanship.

 

-WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?

 The people! I have friends from Brooklyn to Tokyo to Germany to Singapore,true friends not just industry folk. Peace Denim Co. has and always will donate partial proceeds to charities(see BlingKillsCampaign) just knowing I can bring about awareness to an issue,volunteer my time and write a check means the world to me. I have decided to dedicate my life to Awareness & leaving the world better than I found it.

 

-WHAT IS THE WORST THING ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?

 It’s frustrating when people can’t see your vision initially,but the absolute worse part is Self-Centered,egotistical, self-serving people.I believe people for the most part are good but I’ve seen some ill things in this industry..sad

 

-IF YOU WEREN’T An artist, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?

I would be Directing/Producing Porn

 

-WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

 New York New York and The great love of my life Japan

 

-WHERE DOES CREATIVITY COME FROM? 

Life experiences,I’ve been blessed to travel a bit and the food,the faces and places keep me inspired.But subconsciously I have the weight of the world on my shoulders because the better PeaceDenimco. does, the better  any & all charitable causes will do by us. 

 

-WHO’S WORK DO YOU LOOK UP TO? 

(Either currently or in the past) Basquiat,Aerosyn Lex,Mia Won,Lynette Astaire,Atsuko Tanaka & Jeff Staple

 

-WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR INDUSTRY? 

These are the dog-days because the economy is in the shitter so you will have companies that won’t survive. But the its always darkest before the dawn.

 

-WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU NEXT? 

The plan is more European collabs,more collabs in Japan.But I design each line at a small coffeeshop in Shibuya-Japan (my absolute favorite place on Earth) so I won’t know until I sit down in that cafe and ask for my usual(tea & sweets)

 

-WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD ASPIRING TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY? 

I’m not some Large-type asshole.I serve at the pleasure of the people.But the one thing I will say to artists is “Never work for a paycheck.”

 

-ONE DEFINING MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR. 

Definitely traveling abroad! I grew up in one of the most notorious housing projects in America.I was in the projects during the “Summer Of Crack” as a kid with 2 addicted parents,so my career is more about a Life defining experience not just work.

 

-WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?  

Oasis “Wonderwall” but I just put down New Amerykah by Erykah Badu.