PE Interview Series No.4 - Hank from OURS Studio

Interviewer's note: 

OURS Studio is a beloved indie designer brand from Taiwan, powered by the creative duo Hank and Koopa. At Pinky Elephant, our community adores everything OURS creates, from their charming washi tapes and stamps to their exquisite letterpress-print paper and renowned yearly planners. OURS studio's work has a unique thing that captivates us all.

Although I am a fan of vintage vibes, stamp-style art, and letterpress, I still ponder what makes OURS Studio's products so special. Each conversation with Hank is a delight, but this interview with him felt especially honest and passionate, offering a deeper glimpse into the magic behind their creations. Perhaps that’s their secret.

Conducting this interview with Hank was an absolute pleasure. He graciously shared several photos, including original drawings, to give us a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process. I hope you enjoy our conversation and find it as inspiring as I did. -RJ

Q1.What is the brand philosophy of OURS studio? Was this direction established from the very beginning, or was it gradually defined through years of experience?

Hank: In the beginning, we just wanted to create "our own stationery," which is how the name OURS came about. Initially, it was more of a project, as each member had their own job. OURS was a creative outlet in our spare time. Over time, we transitioned to working on it full-time, and through this gradual transformation, it truly became a brand. 

Q2.Could you introduce the design inspiration for the latest season's new products? The new items are selling very well at Pinky Elephant. Personally, I'm curious about why there seems to be a strong preference for letterpress or traditional printing methods?

Hank: All OURS creations revolve around a fictional small town with a somewhat rural and traditional feel. Each season's creations extend from various shops and facilities in this town (such as past themes of the museum, paint workshop, and post office). Since we love old things, the new products this season were initially inspired by an antique shop. However, as we conceptualized, we began to imagine these items in everyday life, which gradually evolved into the theme "Ideal Life." We envisioned cats purring in old cabinets and collected scraps of paper pinned to the wall, reflecting our imagination and aspirations for life.

Our fondness for old things also explains why we love traditional (with some beautiful flaws) printing methods. For instance, the fine lines I draw on the computer using drawing software will have slight natural variations with letterpress printing, and the prints have a textured feel. There are aspects of traditional printing that modern printing cannot replicate, and we are deeply fascinated by these qualities.

Q3.How do Hank and Koopa divide their work and collaborate? Could you share your design process? Do you argue during the design process? (Haha)

Hank: Our design process... well, I (Hank) am like a wild horse, and Koopa is the partner who reins me in (laughs). I usually bring an emotional aspect to the entire design process. I'll think of a core concept or the final image we want to present, and then plan the entire series around this image.

For example, if I think, "I want a beautiful old post office," then the post office would certainly have beautiful stamps > stamp stickers; office stamps used by postal workers > stamp sets; and of course, envelopes and letter paper. For packaging, I would think, "What would the design of a traditional old post office look like?" and create an entire series based on that.

As for the wild horse part, it's like I really want envelopes and letter paper, but practically speaking, fewer people write letters nowadays. So, in terms of production quantities or wanting to create some very special items, Koopa often reminds me (“reins me in”). Of course, there are times when he doesn't understand my sentiments/romantic ideas, which can be frustrating, but we've been partners for many years. I understand his concerns and considerations, and within those limits, I try to indulge my whims as much as possible, which is something I both enjoy and find important!

Hank: Using the Central Post series as an example, we would imagine together what this post office is like, even down to details like the floor and cabinets. We would also look for references and photos to get a clear picture of what kind of post office it is. Then, we would each come up with ideas separately to avoid limiting our imagination. Finally, we would discuss the ideas together and refine them into a better concept.

Of course, there are times when we act on whims, like "I don't care if it loses money, I still want to try making this thing" (laughs). This is what we want to do, and it's the reason we chose this job.

Hank: Many years ago, our planners had a one-page-per-day format with different illustrations for each of the 365 days. We turned themes like the aroma of coffee, strawberry cake, and seasonal changes into abstract watercolor paintings, which was a fun challenge!

Later, due to the busyness of work and changes in our lifestyle, we adjusted the amount and format of daily writing, gradually evolving into the current eight-part layout. When designing, we were inspired by the Japanese elementary school summer homework - free research, where you choose a topic to study. This deeply fascinated me, so we turned it into a weekly assignment in our planners, giving a small topic each week, like finding something yellow or writing down your favorite song. These little tasks became weekly joys.

Hank: Besides extensive reading about design (such as magazines and online columns), most of our design inspiration comes from life. Since we love paper products and simple accessories, as mentioned in previous questions, being fascinated by stamps led us to design a post office series, and being fascinated by flowers and plants led us to create a fictional flower shop. This extends to various stationery creations.

Recently, I’ve been into film photography and even considered learning to bake bread. So, perhaps the theme of OURS’ small town will include a bakery with a homey feel or a meticulously designed film photography studio!

Hank: The biggest frustration... probably the significant changes over the past two years. Last year, I (Hank) was hospitalized for over a month due to a rare disease. Although it wasn't life-threatening, I had to recuperate for several months, missing a scheduled series release. Perhaps wanting to do too many things led to burning out and getting seriously ill. Coupled with the changes in the market and people's preferences over the years, it seems like I was destined to take a break and make some adjustments. But overall, I've recovered and returned to the job I love, so I'll continue to work hard!

Hank: As time goes by, we and our customers are all moving into different stages of life. Besides the original stationery-related products, we plan to start designing different household items. For example, since I love cooking, I want to try designing tableware and utensils, while Koopa wants to design bags and clothing accessories. Everything is still uncertain and needs time to develop and experiment. However, one thing we can say for sure is that we are preparing for OURS’ 10th-anniversary exhibition and new series, so we hope our fans will look forward to it!

Hank: I don't think I've ever approached it from the angle of "guessing female preferences." Usually, I just focus on perfecting the current design because, on some level, I believe that if something is beautiful, everyone will appreciate it. That being said, as OURS ventures into household items, like shopping bags and socks, creating designs that are universally appealing regardless of gender will be a challenge. But we are committed to doing our best.

Hank: We have always been focused on design and often regret our lack of effort in community engagement and marketing. Despite this, having such loyal customers and fans is our greatest fortune. Besides expressing our deep gratitude, if there's anything we want to convey, it's that "we will continue to strive to create works that we love and that everyone will love!"

Hank: We discussed this question recently. Even with the rise of AI, some close friends have asked if we worry that one day our creations might be completely replaced by AI. Just as the digital wave has made handwriting and stationery seem a bit awkward, there will always be people who love traditional methods. For instance, even though everyone uses Instagram and WhatsApp to send messages and photos, printed photos and handwritten cards still hold an irreplaceable place. We hope to provide something precious and irreplaceable in this digital age.