ARTWORK PROCESS
YOTEL TOKYO
Yotel is a modern hotel brand known for its sleek design and innovative, tech-forward approach to comfort. I was commissioned to design a mural for the café at the upcoming Yotel hotel in Tokyo, set to open in 2025, with the concept of capturing the vibrant essence of the iconic Ginza streets.
1. CONCEPT
It all starts with small thumbnail sketches—quick, rough ideas that help me explore the possibilities on paper before diving into Photoshop. My goal isn’t just to create an image, but to capture emotion, motion, and perspective. I wanted to bring the upscale, vibrant streets of Ginza to life, so I imagined a kimono-clad woman strolling through this modern landscape. The real challenge, however, came in figuring out how to represent the varying sizes and depths of the many walls. I split the composition into two parts: the bustling street at the top and the calm, natural ground at the bottom, with the lady as the centerpiece, grounding the whole scene.
2. REFINING
Once I had a solid concept, I moved on to gathering references and refining the shapes by hand. After that, it was time to jump into Adobe Illustrator, where the focus shifted to balancing colors, shapes, and the overall flow of the piece. That’s when the pressure hit. I knew I needed something to unify the whole composition, but everything felt like it could fall apart at any moment. To tie everything together, I used abstract lines to weave through the piece—sky-like lines at the top and wave-like patterns at the bottom—creating a dynamic connection to the central figure. The kimono, with its flowing lines, became a visual symbol of energy and movement.
3. DETAILING
The final phase was all about refining. It’s where I spent countless hours tweaking and reworking elements, often losing track of time in the process. Sometimes, the hardest part is knowing when to stop—there’s always that risk of overworking it. In this case, I decided to simplify things by removing some extra figures from the edges, allowing the composition to breathe. Choosing the right colors was another puzzle: I needed a red that would pop without overwhelming the scene, and a green background that would complement the interior without clashing. It was a delicate balancing act.
Looking back, this piece was both the most challenging and the most rewarding work I’ve ever done. I started with excitement, but the journey turned into a battle against pressure and the fear of making mistakes. In the end, trusting in my skills and having a fantastic team to support me—offering feedback and encouragement—was what truly made the difference. The process was a test of patience, but the result was worth every moment of doubt.
