trozoselect flavor artists
It's not called "Select" for nothing — we've picked seven of the most talented artists and designers we know to participate in the Select Flavor project. In addition to publishing their ubercool creations on Flavorpill, we're posting background information about the artists, getting to the crux of their creative madness via five core interview questions, and archiving their work — all right here.
5 questions with junichi tsuneoka
Junichi Tsuneoka was born and raised in Japan, and arrived in the US at the end of the last century. A graphic designer for five years, Tsuneoka has established a style often recognized as "California Roll Stylie" — the result of both the visual and conceptual fusion of Japanese pop and US urban culture. He founded STUDIO STUBBORN SIDEBURN to broaden his visual communication and to employ his visual language in art, illustration, and design. Tsuneoka's pieces are very unique, with highly communicative, assertive graphics, and contain clear signs pointing back to his strong design background.
junichi tsuneoka
01. Describe the concept(s) behind your interpretation of Select Flavor.
JT: When I look at the Bud Select logo, it reminds me of a soundwave that you see on a digital music player. So I wanted to create an abstract urban music scene that goes with the urban lifestyle, the lifestyle that "Step up to Select" evokes. The logo was incorporated as part of an imaginary music-player icon. The world I created is a mixture of digital-music imagery and urban motifs, with a little bit of fun thrown in.
02. Give a brief sketch of the creative process you used to realize your Select artwork.
JT: I do a lot of sketches on 3" x 3" sticky notes. I pick the ones I like and combine/collage them and then make a draft sketch on tracing paper. With a marker, I create a black-and-white image on white paper. Then I scan it and color it in Illustrator. I finalize by adding some vector elements.
03. If you could set up a studio anywhere, what location would you choose, and why?
JT: New York, because I've never been and I think I would be very inspired by a visit.
04. Who or what inspires you to make art?
JT: I think I am a very word-oriented person. When I hear or read some funny phrase like "monkey business," for instance, I imagine a very serious-looking monkey in a suit, facing his computer in a stuffy corporate setting.
05. What other projects are you working on-or dreaming about working on-right now?
JT: I am currently designing a line of t-shirts for two different companies. Since it's so much fun, I've been dreaming about creating my own clothing brand.