Embedded Files
Formally 098 Productions & Design
I've primarily designed shirts for US Taido Karate. These Shirts were made for various events such as summer camp, international tournaments, team shirts for graduating black belt groups and more.
FRONT DESIGN
This shirt was designed for US Taido's 2022 Summer Camp event. We choose the Daruma design due to its symbolic meaning.
The Japanese idiom, "七転び八起き" or "七転八起" (Nana Korobi, Ya Oki) ,translates to:
Fall Down Seven Times and Get up Eight.
It's a representation of always standing up no matter how many times you are knocked down.
BACK DESIGN
What is a Daruma? (Click to Read)
Seen as a symbol of perseverance, the daruma doll is a hollowed out papier-mâché designed to represent a famous Buddhist monk. The Daruma itself is weighted at the bottom and designed to return to an upright position every time its knocked over. In Japan, usually a wish or resolution is made then one eye is filled, so that it can watch over you as you fulfill your goal. Once the wish or resolution is achieved, the second eye is then filled in. While this doll can be used year round, its most often seen and used for New Year's celebrations.
FRONT DESIGN
This shirt was designed for US Taido's 2023 Summer Camp event. The theme of this shirt was "躰道無限" (Taido Mugen) or Taido Forever/Infinite.
We loosely translated it to Karate Without Limits as it contained the same spirit as the original meaning.
BACK DESIGN
A fierce samurai mask on the back and the samurai's battle flag on the front was used to show our determination upon tackling that year's camp.
The Two Shirts and Mt. Fuji (Click to Read)
In 2024, two shirts were designed. One for the annual summer camp and another for the international Japan trip. Both revolved around the concept of koi fish and dragons as it was the year of the dragon and we'd been throwing around ideas of the koi fish for a while.
In the background of both shirts, there is the same image of Mt. Fuji, specifically from the view point of Shizuoka, Japan.
Shizuoka is the prefecture that the US school's headmaster was from and where some of US Taido's good friends live and run a Japanese Taido dojo. Both shirts were given this symbol of Mt. Fuji as a symbolic representation of US's friendship with Japan.
There is further meaning to the shirts, which will be explained near their respective designs below.
This shirt was made in conjunction with the 2024 Japan Trip shirt, displayed down below.
FRONT DESIGN
This shirt was designed for US Taido's 2024 Summer Camp event. Utilizing a theme of perseverance, we settled on the story of the Koi Fish and the Dragon of this shirt design.
BACK DESIGN
The Story of the Koi Fish And The Dragon (Click to Read)
Its a legend of a koi fish that swam upstream of a waterfall. Once the koi fish reached the top; the gods, who were impressed by how the koi fish overcame all of its insurmountable obstacles, rewarded the fish by transforming it into a dragon.
The story of the koi fish and the dragon is a story about perseverance in overcoming obstacles then being rewarded for that effort.
FRONT DESIGN
The koi fish design on the front of the shirt is the same style usually seen on the Koinobori Flags. Various shades of Orange and White were used to contrast the teal shirt.
This shirt was designed for US Taido's 2024 Japan Trip event and was made in conjunction with the 2024 Summer Camp shirt, displayed above.
BACK DESIGN
The Mt. Fuji design on the back is the same Mt. Fuji design as the 2024 Summer Camp shirt, displayed above.
What is the Koinobori Flag? (Click to Read)
Koinobori flags are typically windsocks with koi fish designs. They are used between April and May to honor Children's Day on May 5th. The symbolism of the koinobori flags are based of the Koi Fish and Dragon legend and represent perseverance and courage.
The flags typically vary in color and size and represent a family. The largest flag is usually back and represents the father. Under that is a slightly smaller flag that can be either red or pink for the mother. Any other fish are smaller and are in a variety of colors to represent the children.
There is typically a non-koi fish shaped streamer on top. This streamer can carry the family crest and is a representation of the dragon from the story's legend.
FRONT DESIGN
BACK DESIGN
SLEEVE DESIGN
This shirt was designed for US Taido's 45th Anniversary in 2020. For a martial art's school to reach 45 years of business is no small feat, and we made this shirt as a way to celebrate.
We decided to design a Torii-Gate, a structure used in Japan's Shinto and Buddhist Temples. The Torii-Gate acts as a representation of the boundary between the mundane and the divine. Within our Torii-Gate design, we wanted to showcase a gateway to our Fighting Spirit.
FRONT DESIGN
BACK DESIGN
SLEEVE DESIGN
In 2019 we made our first winter themed shirt. We were inspired by our upcoming new years celebration also known as Kangeiko (寒稽古) that we celebrate in January.
Read about Kangeiko's purpose below.
For the shirt, we had one of our black belts pose with one of our high level stances and created a silhouette from it.
On the front design we have the silhouette under a waterfall to represent a much older meditation practice called Takigyo (滝行). This is where the martial artist mediates under a waterfall in cold weather in order to cleanse one's mind and body. While we don't exercise under a waterfall, we saw this as a good representation of what we try to emulate as we bring in the new year during our workout.
What is Kangeiko? (Click to Read)
Kangeiko is a traditional celebration performed by martial artists to celebrate the new year and is often considered the first official workout of the year. Kangeiko (寒稽古) translates directly into 'winter training' or 'cold training.' And as the name suggests this new years work out is typically done on the coldest day possible in January. Martial artists ban together to train in this cold weather and pledge to work hard for the upcoming new year.
FRONT DESIGN
BACK DESIGN
SLEEVE DESIGN
In 2021 we made our second winter shirt design.
To represent our connection with Japan, the eagle carries two flowers; the Georgia Cherokee Rose and the Japanese Cherry Blossom. Both flowers are the State/National flowers of their respective locations.
The theme of this shirt revolves around the phrase 'By Skill and By Labor.' We had an older shirt of the same theme that was made before I became the official graphic designer. We wanted to revitalize that theme for this winter design.
MOCK UP MADE FOR CLIENT
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse