Meet Juan Boyso: Graphic Designer and Screen Printer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Juan Boyso and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Juan, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea of a business should always start with a passion. As a kid I always enjoyed sketching cartoons and creating funny comic strips. There have been many different favorite genres such as Calvin & Hobbes, Archie, and the great anime Dragon Ball Z. It could be said that the art industry fascinated me since I could remember! The idea of drawings being used to entertain and tell a story to its viewers was something I fell in love with from the beginning. Of course as you get older you probably find yourself working odd jobs to make ends meet or to provide for your family. Even so, I would have great pride in the uniform I was given to wear as I felt like I was representing not only a company but a brand. As I made my way through the “limbo” phase after High School, I never let go of the love and skill of my childhood talent to sketch. With this in mind it was all about finding how I could make my mark in the world. Once you know what passion to base your business on, it’s good to find how it will help people. Everywhere I’ve gone, there’s a lot you can determine about someone based on looks (the cover of the book is the first thing I see). You can tell someone’s personality ,where someone might work, or if they even work at all. There was also a behavior towards certain clothes like when sweaters are on sale, or shirts are being blasted into the crowd at a rock concert. Regardless of the person or place, there was something that always went through my mind..”Everyone wants a T-shirt”.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m most proud of always finding my way back to my art. There were always moments where there wasn’t enough time to draw up ideas like I used to, but I never stopped appreciating where I could take it. Since I started working in the industry, I soaked in every bit of information on what tools and products to use, how pricing should be calculated, and putting details on the brand. There’s things you truly only learn through first-hand experience and sometimes it’s best to be part of a team that has solutions. The most important thing I have learned about starting a business is that the perfect time to start may never come. “What better place than here, what better time than now?” says Zach De La Rocha, and it’s something I hold close to my shop. I say this because of the pandemic that has been here since the beginning of 2020. It was not the ideal time for those in the printing industry as most events, gatherings, and businesses couldn’t have the usual turnout and funds to make the usual profits. With that said, those that are able to find how to pivot through adversity will always find the path to success, and so even today as I write this there are obstacles that I stumble through but continue to learn from as I move forward. The key is to keep moving forward. What I hope people can take out of my story is to never forget how to dream. We dream about our futures, and the world around us as kids but gradually forget to as we grow up. My story is one I dreamt about 20 years ago, and all it took was holding on to my passion.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been blessed with all sorts of people in my lifetime. My family has always supported me in many ways but my fondest ones are definitely when they would purchase my DBZ drawings straight out of my composition journal for a dollar each! Everyone I’ve met in the screenprinting industry the past 8 years has had a hand in teaching me about the business and the mentality it takes to continue to move forward. My very first printing job in Norcross was actually given to me on the spot! I had no experience, was just coming out of working at a pizza place, and only had intrigue and excitement in my eyes. It just so happened that a spot opened up just days before I went in, and I will forever be grateful for that. You really do only miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Lastly, I really want to share my love and appreciation for my beautiful city of Atlanta! As a Grady Baby, I’ve been exposed to the most diverse and progressive melting pot I could think of. I’ve visited New York, California, and my families homeland Mexico and there is something about the that southern hospitality that is still in the air, even for those that come from outside the area and choose Atlanta as their home. I’ve enjoyed the communities, art & music scene, dance clubs, bars, restaurants, and all the WAHO’s in the city!

Image Credits
Wasem Addus Tres Lunas Supernatural Culture Baggett Elementary School Yadira Boyso Brandon Palacios