Nisei Week 2023 T-Shirt Design

The Nisei Week Festival in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, is a vibrant celebration of Japanese culture, drawing thousands of attendees each year. The challenge was to design a t-shirt that not only honored the festival’s rich traditions but also resonated with a diverse audience. Collaborating with CRFT by Maki, I created a design that captured the festival’s spirit—featuring the Nebuta, a symbol of bravery, and the Yagura tower, a cultural centerpiece of Japanese festivities. The result? A t-shirt that festivalgoers proudly wore, embodying their Japanese pride and love for celebration.

For the Nisei Week Festival in Little Tokyo, I was tasked with designing a t-shirt that honored Japanese heritage while appealing to a broad, modern audience. The challenge was balancing deep cultural symbolism with a fresh, wearable design. Working closely with CRFT by Maki, I began by researching iconic elements tied to the festival’s identity. I landed on the Nebuta, a symbol of bravery, and the Yagura tower, central to traditional Japanese celebrations. My goal was to capture pride, energy, and tradition in a single visual story.

Throughout the process, I paid close attention to cultural accuracy, design placement, and how the art would translate on fabric. I iterated through sketches, tested colorways, and simplified the composition to ensure clarity when printed. Seeing festivalgoers proudly wear the final design was deeply rewarding—it reminded me why I love this work. Design isn't just about visuals; it’s about creating connections through culture, emotion, and storytelling. This project reflects my passion for thoughtful design rooted in meaning.