Trooper

We’re curious—why do you carry your dog in a bag?
I put Koko in a bag because she’s old and her legs are really weak, leaving her unable to walk most of the time. I wanted to bring her out more often in her twilight years.

Share the story behind one of your tattoos.
I have a mechanical scorpion on my arm which represents my late dad. He was a Scorpio and he liked technology.

What was your biggest achievement last year?
Taking over my family’s business in chocolate manufacturing. It has unfortunately shut down due to Covid-19 but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything else. The pandemic was the main reason it shut down, but I couldn’t help blaming myself. I just felt like a failure and my sense of purpose was gone. My mind was in a very dark place for a while. It took a lot of medication and therapy to get out of there.

What’s the hardest part about being a freelance graphic designer, illustrator, and photographer?
The lack of personal boundaries. I always lose track of time and work late into the night.

What was the last thing you saw that really left an impression on you?
My friends and I were doing a beach clean up and the sheer amount of rubbish in just a small corner of the beach was absolutely disgusting. The beach was also strewn with dead fish. We spent hours at that little corner but at the end of the day, it was still covered in trash. The sand was filled with tiny pieces of styrofoam too. It really inspired me to think of more innovative ways to clean the beach.

What is something that brings you joy?
Watching the sunset from my window.