Quick illustrations inspired by an idea generation exercise assigned to Japanese and American students by Niigata College of Art and Design graphic design professor Mr Koizumi.

I am now a writer for the seminal, Japan-based magazine SHIFT, which has been covering creative culture since 1997. As an early reader of SHIFT—when I was beginning my professional career and perusing pioneering design portals online—it is an emotional privilege to now contribute to its publication.

My first article is an interview of Charles Tsunashima, founder of genereight. I have known Charles since childhood, at which time he was the only bonafide designer that I knew and hence, by default, the best. I have since attended a design college, worked for 14 years in the field and he remains the best I know.

Above photograph and design © copyright Charles Tsunashima/genereight Inc. All Rights Reserved.

From May to June 2013, I was the instructor of a month-long art program in Japan with my colleague Len Thomas-Vickory. Len and I instructed 15 students from the Montserrat College of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, travelling to Niigata, Tōkyō, ÅŒsaka, Kyōto and Nara, teaching Woodblock Printmaking and Journalistic Drawing courses in partnership and collaboration with the wonderful faculty of the Niigata College of Art and Design, Montserrat’s sister school.

Traditional Woodblock course instructed by NCAD’s Abe Sensei.