aapi gift guide 2023: finding community in independent + creative career paths
with johann banta (ok super day)
as a part of our aapi gift guide campaign, we're talking to a handful of asian american, native hawaiian and pacific islander small businesses, makers, and creators about their experiences, what they've learned, and their gift picks from the guide.
in this edition of field notes, we're talking to johann banta of OK SUPER DAY. read below to learn more about them!
how did you come up with your business idea, and how did it start?
I began by sharing vector illustrations on Instagram. People started telling me they would buy my designs as t-shirts, so I decided to test them out.
I made a batch of 50 shirts in early 2021 and surprisingly sold out within a week despite having fewer than 200 followers. I owe much of this to positive responses on Reddit's r/streetwearstartup and the Facebook group Asian Creative Network.
I expanded with more shirt designs later that year and a tiger crewneck sweater in early 2022, which got featured on BuzzFeed. I was confident this could turn into something bigger if I kept working at it, so OK SUPER DAY was born in July 2022.
For the past 16 months, I've been experimenting with new designs and products, aiming for each major release to have a strong theme and striving for uniqueness in every detail.
For the upcoming year, I want to do more meaningful collabs with other brands and lift up the AAPI creative community.
tell us a bit about the community/region you’re in—what you love about it, what you wish more folks knew about, etc.
I was born and raised in the Bay Area and pretty much lived here my whole life. Although, a significant portion was spent immersed in various online communities. I took part in random niche online communities throughout the years, like stick figure animation forums, video game development, fish tank aquascaping, and design and illustration.
I love that no matter what your interests are, you’ll find your people online.
tell us about a fellow aapi restaurant, business, or community group(s) you’re a fan of. what do they do best? what makes them different?
I love community groups that shed light on AAPI creatives and entrepreneurs. Community-driven groups such as Asian Creative Network, Asian Hustle Network, and golden guide make independent and creative career paths less daunting for the AAPI community.
what advice do you wish someone gave you when starting out your small business or that you think every business owner/maker should know?
Designers and artists, make a habit of collecting things that inspire you! I suggest using platforms like Pinterest and Are.na, as well as YouTube playlists, the save function on Instagram, and taking notes in Notion.
Keep in mind that these sites can get quite saturated, so draw inspiration from other sources like books, exhibits, various media forms, and, most importantly, real-life experiences. Blending many elements from your unique experiences is how you stand out.
what specific moment or memory has stuck with you as you build your business?
In January 2023, I had a full-time job and got invited to a company-wide meeting to let us know that everyone was getting laid off. At that moment, I actually felt excited that I now get to dedicate all my energy towards independent creative pursuits, yet nervous that rent was due next month.
It was a push I needed and my growth has sped up tremendously since getting laid off. I’ve decided not to go back.
what is the best way for folks to support you?
Check out my work! I’m primarily on Instagram (@yooohon for art, @oksuperday for my brand), always working on something new. If the stuff I make is your vibe, stick around because I have a lot of cool stuff planned!
are you open to collaborating with others? if yes, what types of collaborations would you like to do or be reached out to for?
I’m always open to collaborating and love seeing visual artists collab with direct-to-consumer brands.
I’d love to design something in the food & beverage space, fashion, home goods, or something out of left field like a limited run of fun rice cookers! I’m also very interested in painting murals so if you have a brick-and-mortar, HMU!
what brands (besides your own) in the gift guide will you be shopping at?
I discovered so many cool brands and saw some familiar faces in the gift guide! This time around, I’ll be buying:
a 12-pack of Halmi
citrus peels from KANKITSU LABO
lots of pins from The Bao Bae
discover OK SUPER DAY & 300+ other small businesses, makers, and creators on golden guide's first-ever gift guide at aapigiftguide.com