Rich Tu: The Blog

I know its a long time coming. I'm going to cover mostly my workshop, as that’s what I have the most assets of. Images come from a few places, mostly the ADC, photographer Lynn Parks and my Instagram, with a couple from some attendees. Also, check out some other sweet recaps of Miami craziness here and here.

First off, the conference was so much fun, and the attendees themselves were so amazing and talented that it was easy to see why ADCFestival is in its third year (the above photo is from 123Klan’s great graffiti workshop). 

The workshop was set up as a series of high-energy activities designed to keep creative juices flowing. Not to give too many secrets away, but you can tell that people got in each other’s faces and personal spaces were broken.

Part of the grand finale involved an intense bodypainting free-for-all featuring some brave attendees who didn’t mind getting dirty. This one got a little nuts, in a great way, and I couldn’t believe how well it went.

(photo by Jamaal Nelson)

Afterwards, keeping in the spirit of Miami partying, we had an ill bboy session with the duo Hush Ruckus, a.k.a. B-girl Quiet and B-boy Void (also, it was barely Noon so props to HR for bringing the energy that early).

It was such a fun workshop, that I doubt that it will be the last of this concept. Thanks to the Art Directors Club for allowing such innovative concepts into their programming and to the attendees for getting dirty. Looking forward to the future! #NoBrainsAllowed

This year I felt like a Make-A-Wish kid because I got the honor of working on the XXL Freshmen 2015 cover (and interiors, but that’ll be revealed later). I was pretty involved in this one, and was on-site for the photoshoot and created a mural for the event. You can see a time-lapse of its creation in the behind-the-scenes video featuring their amazing EIC Vanessa Satton.

Cover photography by Tom Medvedich. Creative Direction by Melissa Medvedich. Inside to be revealed soon!

While in Miami for the ADC Festival I commented on the then “new” presidential campaign logos with a bunch of other amazing designers. Basically, everything on the spectrum of “meh” to “eh”.

ADC Festival. April 27-29. Buy tickets here. Big Willy wishes this for you.

Not too long ago, me and my good friend (and amazing director) Kris Merc were commissioned by Coke RED to create an animated video for Queen’s track “Heart Again”, focusing on AIDS awareness. We were asked to infuse an engaging narrative with bold and iconic typographic treatments. Ultimately unused, we completed the animation for presentation.

Credits below, as well as initial illustrative concepts that were ultimately translated onto screen.

Happy New Year! This April I'll be hosting a workshop at the Art Directors Club annual ADC Festival in Miami, Florida (April 27-29). It's called "No Brains Allowed" and it's goal is to remove you from your comfort zone and get back to the basics of creativity. It should be a lot of fun and you'll probably have to take a nap afterwards.

I shot a pretty cool promo video for it, some images of it posted here. I'll let you know when the official video is out.

In the meantime purchase your tickets here.

Had the amazing chance to design the last two covers for SLAM, shot by Atiba Jefferson, with creative direction by Melissa Brennan.

I recently collaborated with the awesome rugby brand Bakline, Pictured above modeled by the goddess Samii Ryan, and photographed by the traplord Kareem Black.

Just in time for the holidays. Purchase your very own tee here.

I created the logo above for the Khokhovela school located in South Africa through the VC+ program. They are a non-profit creative collective that uses creativity to fund and fuel existing charities. With the help of the Dreamfields Project, they paired 13 schools with 13 artists, in order to give the kids of each school new specially designed soccer kits.

This project was a lot of fun, with most of it happening during the excitement of World Cup, which gave it a lot of resonance. In October, the VC+ team went back to give the kids their new kits, and facilitate a tournament near Mpumalanga, South Africa. From all accounts, it was an amazing event and the kids were thrilled.

A lot of amazing artists participated in this one, including Jayson Atienza, Tristan Eaton, Sophia Chang, Dress Code, and Juan Carlos Pagan.

Check out the VC+ cause here.

I created the logo above for the Khokhovela school located in 

I know I've been very terrible as of late about updates. Too much happening on the plate as of late.

A couple of weeks ago I had a great opportunity to a a massive mural at Ani Ramen. It's about 30 feet long and 10 feet high, in a terrific space. The food is amazing as well.

I also did a Skillfeed video on my process, which should drop this Summer. Enjoy!

Last week I had the opportunity to work with Barbara Richer of the New York Times' Sunday Styles section on a piece about Facebook's new gender identification tools. We kept it symbols based, and focused on the empowerment it gives users to specify their identity. I love this way this one turned out.

I will be running a three-part workshop with Cooper-Hewitt from Tuesday, February 11 to Thursday, February 13. They will begin at 4pm to 6pm (and slightly past) on those days. The free event is geared towards beginning-to-intermediate designers at various skill levels, but everyone's invited to participate. Event details are available online, and registration open through the Cooper-Hewitt website.

Basically, it will a crash course on effective poster-making. Ideas will flourish, and weakness will be pounded into submission.

I recently had the pleasure of working with the prestigious Atlantic Theater Company on the look for their production of 3 Penny Opera (of "Mack the Knife" fame). Atlantic Theater Company is the alma mater of some great performers like Elizabeth Olsen and Clark Gregg.

So naked and drippy.

The show runs from Mar 12 - May 4. Buy your tickets here