JUZO x COMMON GOOD
Juzo is a multi-talented artist, producer, audio engineer, and designer from Seattle, Washington. He creates music and visuals with the intention of expressing his personal experiences and truths, while also connecting with those who have similar stories. Common Good Lifestyle tapped Juzo to design our very first Common Good Lifestyle collection.
What was your design process behind this first collection?
Before I started working on each piece, I studied from a few of my influences that I felt like would be similar to the vibe and aesthetics I was going for. Brands such as Native Supply, Fear of God, and Off-White helped to shape the overall designs early on, and after time each piece began to find a life of its own. The entire creation process was done through Photoshop despite the heavy incorporation of typography and logos; it’s the tool I use the most and am most comfortable/familiar with.
The main focus for this set of merchandise was thinking about how to best communicate inclusivity and accessibility, while also maintaining a unique identity for the Common Good brand. At the end of the day, Royce and I wanted the designs to encompass the heart and mission behind the church, which I thought the end products did very well in conveying.
What was the inspiration and meaning behind each design?
Worldwide Pullover: This piece helps to represent the main mission of Common Good as a ministry. Just as Christ loved, served, and sacrificed Himself for the good of all people, the church as a whole should look to love and serve others as well, regardless of who they are. This might mean people who don’t believe in the same things, or people who look and live differently from us; but the goal remains the same, that we are to love our neighbors and pursue the good of all people.
Bilingual Crewneck: In a way, this piece is a bit self-explanatory with the phrase ‘common good’ echoing in multiple languages. There are so many different kinds of people in this world, and sometimes we feel like those differences are the things that keep us from an intimate relationship with the Lord. However, no matter what you identify as, where you come from, how much money you earn, or what language you speak, nothing can stand in between you and the love of Christ.
SOTM (Sermon on the Mount) T-Shirt: The painting used as the centerpiece for this t-shirt is of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, where he teaches about living a “good” life that is dedicated to and pleasing to God. Often times what we depict as good is quite different from the Lord’s definition, and there are times where we even question whether or not God is truly good. However at the end of the day, God is sovereign. We may not understand everything that happens, but we can hold on to the truth that He is indeed good.
What non-profit organization would you like the proceeds of clothing sales to go to?
Initially I had a difficult time deciding which non-profit to contribute to. There are so many organizations out there that are trying to do good, I almost felt like it didn’t really matter which one I ended up choosing. But one night, God out of nowhere placed a certain non-profit on my heart called Anthem of Hope.
Anthem of Hope is a Christian mental health organization dedicated to amplifying hope for those battling brokenness, depression, anxiety, self-harm, addiction, and suicide. The founder Jarrid Wilson (former pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship), tragically passed away by suicide just a few months ago. I still remember reading the news through social media, and although I didn’t know who he was up until that point, I could see the impact he had on so many people’s lives. Despite the fact that he himself battled with depression, he created a whole ministry dedicated to helping those who were going through the same struggles.
As somebody who struggles with depression, addiction, and suicidal thoughts, it was on my heart to choose an organization that was passionate in helping those with mental illness. I think the church as a whole should continue working at dispelling the stigma behind depression, and to encourage more dialogue and openness around this topic. It’s heartbreaking to see so many people suffering from this epidemic, but I believe that through Christ and community we’ll be able to find the strength and support we need to recover.
You can find out more about them on their website: www.anthemofhope.org
