Pono Design Studio
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Pono is a graphic design studio founded by Lauren Okura and Paul Maeda.
03/25/2026
Pono was recently given the incredible honor to design the first Japanese Heritage Jersey for the Chicago Cubs.
The jersey design needed to reflect our Japanese heritage, so the idea of connecting Japan and the Chicago Cubs served as our inspiration. The Cubs, founded in 1876, are one of the oldest MLB teams and were active when professional baseball began in Japan in 1936. This gave us the idea to celebrate their two histories.
Inspired by the jerseys the Cubs wore in 1936, we combined the colors, logos, and overall jersey style with Katakana characters that say "Chicago," "Cubs," and "Go! Cubs! Go!," along with the Japanese flag to represent both the Cubs and Japanese baseball. The result is a custom 1936 throwback jersey with a touch of Japanese flair.
A huge heartfelt thank you to the Chicago Cubs for giving us the opportunity to create this jersey!
These special-edition jerseys are available through a Special Ticketed Offer for the Cubs vs Rockies game at Wrigley Field on June 17th, 2026 at 7:05 PM.
More info on the MLB website: www.mlb.com/cubs/tickets/specials/japanese-heritage
Sometimes, our job is to refresh a brand rather than build a new one. No matter how dated, existing logos often carry brand equity for a company, including meaning and recognition for their audience. So, when we’re asked to redesign a logo, we always consider the brand’s existing visual story to preserve the positive aspects while enabling the brand to grow, evolve, and flourish.
Thank you to our amazing partners who entrusted us with their logo and brand refreshes: Aprecomm, SG+ Reps, Angela Renee Photography, Yama Physical Therapy Performance & Recovery, foundHR, Heather Booysen Photography, Composed Comp Group, and the Chicago Botanic Garden
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Pono Design Studio
Think of Pono as your organization's design partner—instead of building an internal design team or hiring an agency, work with talented and experienced designers who are flexible with your needs. With this partnership, you can expect beautifully designed visuals that communicate value, ensue engagement, and gain recognition for your brand.
What makes Pono unique is its founders and core designers, Lauren Okura and Paul Maeda. Each with over 15 years of agency and in-house experience and working together since 2012, their long-time complementary working relationship has made them an extremely efficient, versatile, and effective team enabling them to create second to none design work.
In addition to servicing clients, Pono donates its design services to non-profit organizations working to inspire positive change to make the world a better place.
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