Ratta and Nadine: Design Director and Visual Artist

What’s the journey behind @t.i.n.y.studio, how does it start?

It actually began in 2018 merely as a platform where both of us could create anything we wanted. We started by hosting a friend’s solo exhibition in Pasar Santa. There was no intention to turn this into something serious like what we do today—even the name was taken from Nadine’s Instagram account at the time. As time went by, we began to realize what we truly wanted to do and decided to shift this platform into a graphic design studio that we’re doing in full-time.

Creative clashes are bound to happen when working together—so when your design ideas go head-to-head, how do you find a middle ground at TINY Studio?

We don’t think there will ever be a middle ground. That’s why we must keep an open mindset that every project, even a completed one, is a work in progress for something that will take shape in future projects. The most important thing is to trust your creative partner and make sure to have a good communication towards each other.

What is your favorite work while working at Tiny Studio? And why?

It’s hard to pinpoint a single project, but we must say that our zine with Rahel Stephanie, Pedas, was one of the most fulfilling to complete. We love how straightforward the zine is, giving us plenty of room to experiment with visuals and challenge the portrayal of food. It also took us to new places and introduced us to a wider creative network.

What’s one thing you admire about each other’s creative style?

(Ratta) I love how Nadine’s visual sensibilities have been trained differently from mine. She’s bold and unapologetic, which makes me question almost every authoritarian design decision I make.

(Nadine) For me, Ratta is a skilled graphic designer, and I find his systematic approach fascinating. It creates a delicate balance in our working dynamic.

What’s your secret weapon for handling creative block as a team?

Shut down your device and do something completely unrelated to work. Also, stop pressuring yourself to always create the perfect work. Even the most talented designers produce bad designs once in a while, so no need to be stress over it.

Based on graphic designers, if SASSH were a font, what font would it be!

Probably Crayonette. It’s feminine and playful, yet still carries a classic vibe.

If you could go back to the moment you started TINY Studio, what advice would you give yourselves?

Maybe to just make a business card haha. But seriously we stumbled a lot of business card moments but never have one on us. So there you go!