Justin Kemerling is working towards being a community activist designer. He graduated college, made a short film, initiated several collaborative projects with extremely talented designers and partnered with several progressive organizations in the community. His work focuses on the specifics of place; picking a side and giving image, clarity and distinction to specific causes. Whether dealing with social justice, peace, sustainability, climate action, student organizing or art culture, his goal is to design positively for social change.

Justin's latest effort is Power to the Poster, a poster project on the Web, offering wild postings that comment on the issues of our time, for anyone, anywhere to download, print and post. The central question: As a global citizen, what moves you?

12.31.08

Designing Positively

If you have a degree in what field is it? Journalism and mass communications.

What’s the best site you've seen lately? What’s so great about it? TED. Every experience is mind-blowing.

If you were to change professions, what would you choose to do? Teach—about the impact of social movements and fringe thinking, and how to effectively communicate those thoughts.

Design or technology? Which is more important? Why? Design. Whether you were meant for design or not, there is no amount of technology that can say otherwise.

From where do your best ideas originate? Random wanderings of the mind, either while walking, driving or showering.

How do you overcome a creative block? I refer to brilliance. Writers, artists or designers, it doesn’t matter. I also hang out with my wife, she’s both really smart and the funniest person I know.

In one word describe how you feel when beginning a new project? Onward!

What well-known site is most desperately in need of a redesign? NYTimes.com. You know, I just don’t like it. I have Paul Krugman bookmarked and that’s pretty much where it ends.

Do you have creative outlets other than design? I used to play music. Lately I’ve been reading and writing. Overall, I just try to always be working at making something.

What music are you listening to right now? I just saw Wolf Parade live, which was absolutely amazing. So them, and for the past year, Yeasayer.

What product/gadget can you not live without? My laptop for on-screen; off-screen it's my trusty screen-printing squeegee.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve bought online? A reusable scrub pad for screen print cleaning for $2.50; then another $2.50 reusable scrub pad because my good friend left the first one at the car wash.
 
What’s your favorite quote? “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” —Michael Pollan

Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession? Always think. Always do. Self-doubt is good. Make friends. Don’t be a jerk. Lighten up. Do what you can to make this world better. It’s gonna be a strange ride but, dammit, it’ll be worth howling about.

What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your career? Small is beautiful.