Words by: MAX BENGTSSON
Images by: SAM WONG
Doc and Aki are a creative couple with distinct artistic styles and a shared focus on innovation.
Doc is an artist, stylist, model, photographer and conceptual creator influenced by 80s pop culture.
Aki is an artist and illustrator known for expressive mural work and bold colour use.
Creative partnership
We spoke with the duo about their creative practice, both individually and together, and how working as partners can be both inspiring and challenging.
Doc reflects on having more time during recent periods to explore personal creative direction and develop new work.
Doc’s creative evolution
Doc originally worked as a graphic designer for brands before shifting toward building his own practice.
He eventually launched his own collection, applying his visual language across prints, clothing, and objects.
“I would always be designing for other people… but to have your own brand and invest in it was a big step.”
Creative relationships
“People think creative couples are always harmonious, but it can be more difficult.”
Collaboration process
Doc and Aki describe their collaborative workflow as a negotiation of ideas, where both strong perspectives merge into a shared visual outcome.
They emphasise planning through digital sketches and physical mapping before painting.
Mural creation process
Their Tint mural was developed using a structured approach:
- iPad sketching for composition
- Wall pencil mapping
- Projection for scaling accuracy
They noted this helped avoid issues during execution and allowed a smoother collaborative process.
Colour exploration
The duo initially considered using up to 12 colours but refined their palette for clarity and impact.
They highlighted the freedom of working with Tint’s colour range compared to standard hardware store options.
Final thoughts
“Sometimes it’s good to plan things out, especially if it’s collaborative.”
The project reflects their shared energy, experimentation, and enjoyment of working in colour together.
