Sport & Design Blog: live from Tokyo, Japan!
Rising design by Tomoki Uematsu: DAY 16
Our original Rising Suns team logo design was created with generous support from one of Tokyo's most innovative graphic artists, Tomoki Uematsu. After graduating from Parsons Design School, then working as art director at the global design/marketing firm Wieden & Kennedy, Tomoki then came on board with Hope 81 and developed our Rising Suns concept/logo/website/flyer/everything for us last year. He was amazing!
To see all of his latest work, check out Tomoki's online portfolio here.
So how did we get so lucky, to have one of Tokyo's finest graphic designers helping out a local grassroots NPO like us? This is the kind of high-profile artist who would normally be doing stuff for Nike (actually he has done some campaigns for them already, see his portfolio) but this time, he was with us. I guess it was a dream come true, and the impact we made in our first run at Quai 54 couldn't have been possible without him.
What made the impact? Perhaps there's something about his design that connects with the minds of athletes and non-athletes alike. Or I like to believe it creates the imagery of five digits on one hand-- representing five players on one team in the game of basketball. The concept of teamwork and functioning together as a well-balanced unit. That's what we'll need, to win in Paris.
Today I just wanted to go back to our roots, and say thanks again, Tomoki. We still love the ‘look and feel’ of this logo. It’s awesome, and really one of a kind. We couldn't be here without you, and we won't forget it!! Hopefully we'll have some updates to share about Tomoki's new independent design company, Joker ID.
Rising each and every day.
ジェイソン
RS2010
Women in Sport, Women in Art
Happy International Women’s Day! In honor of aspiring female athletes and artists all around the globe, we’ve got a few inspirational things to share from our Hope 81 community here in Tokyo...
#1...a very special interview with basketball star Shinko Ono, Japanese Women’s National Team member, of the W-JBL’s JOMO Sunflowers. She’s a wonderful person and a very talented player, so its great to start working with her towards women’s empowerment through sport. To start things off, you can find out more about Shinko and her views on women’s player development in Japan with her Hope 81 Team profile page here.
#2...meet Konomi Ikeda, one of Japan’s up-and-coming fashion designers and leader of her Shibuya-based girls streetball team: The Pink Suns. This is what girls power is all about. (In Japanese, we call it joshi ryoku!). Ikeda specializes in women’s sports apparel and has created a really fresh, new line that perhaps you will only see in Tokyo. Maybe some other communities will be inspired once they see this. Read about Konomi’s background along with a few pictures of her women’s limited edition streetball fashion here.
And this just in today! We’re making a prototype for a new product, in collaboration with a Tokyo-based female artist (and fan of the Rising Suns): Airi-chan!
The RS2010 iphone case 
To give credit where credit is due, these sparkling new cases (seriously, they are bling-ing) are a re-design of Tomoki Uematsu’s original Rising Suns: Represent! logo from our inaugural 2009 campaign. We’re planning to share the cases as a limited edition item, and funds we receive from sales will be used to help pay for our Rising Suns team journey to Paris this summer.
PS...We’re not sure how much these babies are going to cost, but for now you can share your feedback in the comments below while we get our RS2010 campaign up and running. Remember, proceeds from all sales will go directly back to the artists = Tomoki and Airi.
Support women in art. Promote women in sport. Once again, Happy International Women’s Day to everyone, wherever you are.
Hope 81