www.tokidoki.it

Illustrator | Japan

Tell us a little bit about Tokidoki?
Tokidoki is my peronal diary, I just put into it the design that gives fun and happiness to my life. Sometimes I’m so busy with work and try to do new stuff for it during my nights and holidays. Tokidoki is a japanese word that means sometimes, I love totally Japan, its culture, people, modern cities and peaceful country side. It’s a magic place. The most wonderful in the world for me. Tokidoki means “sometimes”, it’s the concept of waiting for the most important meaningful choices, meetings, happenings in life that can change your destiny in profession, love and friendship. Those things that can make wonderful one person’s life.

When did you start with graphic design?
I started seriously about 5 years ago…. but always liked to draw, build my own things and toys. I did in my adolescence lots of punk concerts hand made and pretty rough concert posters for some squats and venues.

Do you have any new projects coming up soon that you can tell us about?
MMmmm…I try to hide it.,…but probably i’ll move soon to Los Angeles and make my own brand with some partners….actually a company called Tokidoki. We will start from t-shirts..than who knows.

Tokidoki inspires a lot of designers, where you look for inspiration?
I take inspiration not that much from other artists or designers. I just try to look with a personal point of view at things I have around whn I walk on the streets, travel, wait for a bus, and take some skatches in my pocket hand book.


Because that fascination for the oriental themes?
Hard ot explain, it’s something that happens to some people from the western society. You consider magic the oriental themes for their being so different from us. I love the kindness, the minimal and the pop of the japanese cities. It seems there’s something spiritual in everything, a different morality and something so funny in their advanced technology.

How would you describe your design style?
My design is something very personal, I could say it’s pretty colorful, balanced but extremely pop. It’s a mix of sexy and cute, or ordered and disordered.

What programs do you use to create your illustrations?
I use adobe illustrator, than pass my stuff on flash to make them alive. Some of my illustration starts by a hand made sketch.


How is your creative process?
I don’t have a real process…I just look continuously and things I have around and Imagine them in a personal way, in my style. I have to say I’m a pretty absent minded person because I’m always focused on observing and distorting things I have around in my mind. I love design and it’s really a part of myself, it gives sense to my life.

How many hours/day do you spend on your computer?
At least 10…..

Do you prefer technologically advanced sites or sites with simple but good design?
I think the second, but I have good friends that are pretty good programmers an they make me understand thee beauty of an advanced technology. It depends on the site…. there are cool and less cool sites, but the final product in his completeness that can catch my interest and admiration.


Do you have any hobbies outside of digital art and computing?
I love to paint and try to find more time for it. I love to study japanese and travel as much as I can. I used to play for something like 9 years bass guitar in a punk band. Fortunately-Unfortunately design takes most of my time and I don’t have that much time for all those other things.

What is your favorite food?
Sushi, pizza with mushrooms, pasta with sea foods, beer.

What kind of music do you like?
Emo core, Punk rock, some electronic, some classical music too. Depends on the moments, I have cds for any kind of mood! I super lovePizzicato Five!


What are your plans for the future?
Move to Los Angeles, then try to travel as much around and have as much experiences as possible. Hope i will realize my dream of living in japan a good slice of my life once.

Where do you see the future of design going on the internet?
Internt is becoming day by day a more powerful and spreaded midia. There will be more audience and more research to improve the visual of the design. the faster connection will be able to give the opportunity to improve the motion graphic, illustration, movie quality. There will be more interfaces all around, not just for computers, wireless, mobile phones.

If you were to advice a newly educated designer, what would you advice or recommend them to focus on?
I think to do their best always and always, never give up because it’s a terribly hard work, keep always them updated about what’s going around in design, fashion, trends….it’s good to grow up,..take inspiration from it if it’s meaningful for you… but never copy something from someone, it’s so bad.

Any final comments?
Not really…love design and love japan!