ROSKI SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Justin Finuliar is currently an MFA in Design student at USC and the Director of Innovation at Two Bit Circus Foundation. Through positions held at startups and academic institutions – including Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) Center for Innovation, Make in LA, and the UCSF Center for Digital Health Innovation – Justin has helped to create opportunities conducive for innovation and entrepreneurship. In addition, he is an accomplished designer, multimedia artist and researcher. He commonly incorporates audience participation into his work and views interactivity as a way to facilitate discussion, active viewership, and community engagement. STEAM is integrated into his own education – Justin has dual Bachelor degrees in science and art, and an MS in Global Medicine. Justin recognizes the importance of Renaissance thinking, and hopes to inspire the next generation of makers, creatives, and entrepreneurs.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Born in San Jose CA and lives in Los Angeles CA
LEFTY OR RIGHTY?
Righty with a pencil, but I’m goofy with a skateboard.
MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?
Night owl. Hoot.
FICTIONAL OR HISTORICAL CHARACTER YOU IDENTIFY WITH?
Shuri, the princess and technical genius of the African kingdom of Wakanda.
FAVORITE MOVIE?
In no particular order: The Martian, Deadpool, anything Pixar
FAVORITE TV BINGE WATCH?
Rick n Morty and GOT
FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM?
Instagram
FAVORITE PODCAST?
How I Built This and 99% Invisible
FAVORITE FINE ARTIST?
Kara Walker, Barbara Kruger, Olafur Elliasson
LAST BOOK YOU READ?
Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
FAVORITE CHARITY/CAUSE?
STEAM Education for the kiddos
FAVORITE FREE TIME ACTIVITY?
Trying out different escape rooms
IF YOU WERE NOT A DESIGNER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
In combination with my goal to time travel, I’d be a blacksmith.
A MANTRA OR SAYING YOU LIVE BY?
“‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.’ – Wayne Gretzky” – Michael Scott