Rukkit Kuanhawate is a designer and artist whose work breathes the vivid style of his home city of Bangkok. Having graced the cover of Computer Arts Magazine and been featured in the showcase Tiger Translate Project, his work is now reaching a much wider audience. Rukkit took some time out from his busy schedule to shine a bit more light on his career so far and some of the things that inspire him.

Welcome to Thunder Chunky. How are you today?

I’m very well thanks.

For those amongst our readers who aren’t familiar with your work, could you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Rukkit Kuanhawate, I’m 30 years old and my work is based in Bangkok.

Your work crosses a number of different genres and media, from illustration to typography to motion graphics. What are some of the projects you’ve been involved with recently?

Tiger Translate in Thailand, several editorial works for graphic magazine in Thailand, for example: Band of Boredom, and also our product design brand named “K.L.E.A.R”

You also run B.O.R.E.D Design. Could you tell us about how that first got set up?

We started B.O.R.E.D 6 years ago, right after we graduated. The reason we got together and created our own style of work is that we were “bored” from routine works. “Graphic Battle” was one of the first projects we did under the name B.O.R.E.D. We created the live space for people to use graphics as weapons.

Bangkok seems to have a vibrant and exciting design community. What are some of your favourite things about the city?

Bangkok is my hometown . I’ve been living here for almost 30 years. It’s easier for me to do whatever i feel like since cost of living here is not so high ? Bangkok is a small but charming city. You can find all you ever wanted here such as culture, food and also hi-technology stuff at affordable prices. Bangkok has influenced my style of work a lot – especially the city, surroundings, people and Thai culture.

People in the UK will have seen the illustration you did for the cover of issue 121 of Computer Arts a while back. How much work is involved in creating a complex vector illustration like that?

Most of past my works usually contained those kind of complexities. So I was already used to that kind of hardworking. It took me about a week to complete and my inspiration came from Asian culture .

So, you are currently working in London now? (correct me if I’m wrong) or involved in some projects with clients from London, e.g. Computer Arts… How do you compare the Thai and Uk design scenes/clients?

Most of Thai clients are more conservative while UK clients let you express your ideas and your own style.

When you get a new project, how do you start? Do you do sketchbook work?

Of course, I do sketchbook work after I’ve finished brainstorming ideas. Then i select how to do it, whether Vector, 3D or photoshop. It makes my projects a lot faster and easier. Sketching for me is like creating the whole picture for each piece of work. It also helps me to see the direction and the order of what is needed to do on the computer.

What advice would you give to young illustrators and designers who are only just starting their careers?

Pay attention to the idea-creating process and how to communicate your own ideas clearly. Do not concentrate only on styles, otherwise you won’t find the variety and creativity.

What’s the most interesting thing that you’ve bought recently?

A language course in London and a flight ticket. However, I did gain life experience.

Finally, what’s the one thing everybody should do today?

Give me more jobs..!!

There’s a number of different places where you can find more of Rukkit’s work, but the best place is his behance page.