Justin Fines in the T Shirt Club!

We’ve just released a new Lonesome Rose T-Shirt Club! This is shirt 009 designed by Brooklyn-based designer, DEMO, aka Justin Fines. Justin began his practice in Detroit in 1997, and has been based in NYC since 2004. Eschewing a focus on one medium, he works in graphic design, branding, motion graphics, filmmaking and illustration. He's currently a professor teaching Branding and Messaging at Pratt Institute’s School of Design, and is ACD at Mother Design in NY. Justin is also the Design Director of the dance company GREYZONE, which he co-founded with choreographer Lindy Fines in 2012.

Grab one before they’re gone! and check out this quick interview with the artist behind the latest design, conducted by LSD art director Drew Ryan.

Hey Justin what's good?

The sun is shining today!

What was it that got you interested in making graphics? What was your first paid gig?

Music ephemera: posters, album covers, gig flyers, the lot. My first paid gig was doing a flyer for a rave in Detroit, must have been 1997, and I couldn’t tell you which. 

Where did you grow up? Do you feel like it had any influence on your overall aesthetic or approach to design?

I grew up in the suburbs outside of Detroit. Suburban life was pretty bland, but living next to and visiting Detroit (especially the Detroit Institute of Arts, a great museum) was really formative. The big Diego Rivera mural https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Industry_Murals

How did you get connected with the 90s/2000s era Detroit Techno scene?

Luck and pure youthful drive. I got connected to a promoter in early 97 who got me my first gigs and introduced me to Derrick May at Transmat which was massive. 

Favorite album artwork of all time?

That’s akin to ‘what’s your favorite color’? To just pick on of many, I’d say ‘Clear’ by Cybotron. Any of Autechre’s 90’s releases, anything by Vaughn Oliver. 

Can you show us a photo of your desk / workspace?

Your graphic design portfolio shows a solid 25+ years of work—it's impressive to see how some of these decades-old aesthetics are working their way back into today's modern style. Was there ever a time when you were trying to distance yourself from some of the club / rave / tech aesthetics you were known for in the early days?

Yes for sure. In 2001 I decided to round up all of the vector artwork that I had created over the first few years of designing and give it away as one big pack of pieces. One huge vector file. It was very cathartic. I look back pretty fondly on that time though and I’m fascinated to see that type of work back in vogue.

You have $5 to spend at Taco Bell—what'll you have?

Probably just a Baja Blast since I don’t mess with the food at TB anymore.

With a chip in hand, what do you reach for first—Queso, Guac, Salsa, or Elotes?

Guac!

Outside of design, what inspires you?

I love painting, drawing, sculpture. Modern dance plays a but part in my life. I started a dance project that I art direct with my wife Lindy who is a choreographer in 2012 (grey-zone.com), and it’s been super influential on my work.