I ran into Alby over on YayEveryday! about a year ago. We made a connection over a shared aesthetic and appreciation for iconic illustration and design. The language barrier between us has been entertaining when we chat over facebook. It’s so interesting to see how his culture and environment have shaped the style and elements of his work. His co-project Head In Colors aka hinc® is a great example of their unique way of looking at things. It’s like hipster meets super-clean design/illustration. Check out his personal site, SuperColors ///here///
Tell us a little about yourself and what steps you took to get here:
I was born in Milan the 16th December 1986. In 2002 I started a three-year course promoted by Lombardia region (my region of residence). I started working right after the end of the course. In 2005, I took part in Eastpak Italia competitive exam, gaining the 2nd place out of 200 participants. I obtained excellent results and a few job offers. After taking part in the bid, I realized that fashion could be the track I would like to follow and that it could improve my knowledge of printing techniques on fabric, so I took that direction. I worked for brands such as Baci&Abbracci, PuercoEspin and Camac which are both Italian prominent brands. In 2009 I won and eventually refused a scholarship offered by the European Design Institute (IED), after gaining one of the first places in a bid counting at least 1000 participants. I had to refuse the scholarship because it did not cover the extent of the fees, that still remained quite high. Also because the IED staff suggested I should not give up my working experiences.
Recently my partners and I have started a small communication business (HINC – headincolors.com) producing and projecting a varied range of products including clothes, websites and prints. Nowadays I am self-employed trying to build my customer base by constantly networking. People say I have good a very good eye for details, but I still think that learning is a day-by-day process. I still have not reached the top and I might never get there… I just want to seed and harvest what I am producing daily with my fantasy and my ideals. I update my personal web site , supercolors.it, on a daily basis.
Tell us about your fascination with tattoo style artwork.
I particularly like old-school tattoos but I appreciate new-school tattoos as well. I follow Ed Hardy and few other tattoos gurus. I like the fact that even though these tattoos are extremely stylized the result is amazingly catchy, pleasant and precise. I would love to learn how to tattoo even though it is a very complicated art let’s say…
What’s your go-to source of inspiration outside of art or music?
MOTHER NATURE! It is the creator of every single thing. We should take it as our example since it indulged itself so much. Flora and Fauna.
What are some of your influences as to your style?
I have many different creative influences. I skim friend’s websites who tend to work in graphic or web design. Also… general culture, design and fashion blogs. Just to make myself clear; I look for inspiration even in a simple flashing light of a Turkish kebab house. I often realize though, that what really charms me is the American style. I find the English and the American lettering particularly fascinating, espeically the old school-style ones involving pen and ink.
Words to live by?
ALWAYS BELIEVE. NEVER GIVE UP. I think nothing could stop me or my ideals. Every day I fight against the feeling that the world is trying to slow me down, but I try in every way I can to knock down these barriers and move on. I firmly believe in my ideals and there is nothing that could make that change.
What blogs or magazines do you turn to for creative inspiration?
The Avant Garage We’re Blushing
What’s your personal favorite piece of yours? Tell us a story behind it.
I think one of the best pieces I have ever produced was the graphic “Hai proprio una fantasia del cazzo!” TRANSLATED (You’ve really got a fucked up fantasy). In this piece I expressed digitally what I am told by people working with me. I used photoshop CS4 and a little bit of illustrator, but the buk was built with photoshop.
What’s your all-time favorite piece of art or design? (*not created by you)
It is an installation peice produced by my father (no one famous actually). In this piece he used real ice-cream, eggs and other kinds of food stuck on a painting. Unfortunately, I have no picture to show you, but it’s really worthy of being called the coolest design piece I’ve ever seen.
What’s your current creative obsession?
I have different obsessions…depending on days! Some days I create garments, some days I produce vector illustrations and sometimes I draw. My main obsession is trying to achieve a perfect freehand drawing!
