📖 Volume 6 – Final Design + Sneak Peeks
Every creative journey has that moment when a design stops being “just an idea” and transforms into something real. For me, Volume 6 was that turning point. The key update here was finalizing the first design for City Evoke’s debut release — the moment when all the sketches, mockups, and experiments finally became a polished, wearable piece.
Seeing the polished version for the first time felt different than looking at mockups. It wasn’t just about a shirt anymore — it was about expressing my feelings through color, shape, and detail. The final version carried more weight, more emotion. It felt alive.
I also decided to show glimpses of other sketches and unfinished concepts in this volume. The reason? To give my viewers and potential buyers a peek into what’s coming next. For an audience that loves anime, designer culture, and futuristic streetwear, these behind-the-scenes moments build connection and anticipation.
Even if these sketches aren’t part of the first release, they’re deeply tied to my bigger vision: the Neon Dreams collection. Each piece connects to the same universe of neon, cyberpunk energy, and anime-inspired storytelling.
On the back of the shirt, I added words that explain what CityEvoke (City Evoke) is all about. It’s not just text — it’s a message, a reminder of the brand’s core: fusing anime aesthetics, neon lights, and city-inspired vibes into something wearable and meaningful.
📖 Volume 7 – Neon Dreams: Zira
When it came time to create my first-ever character design, I didn’t have to think twice: Zira was the one. She embodies my cyberpunk vision and was actually the very first design I sketched last year, long before I officially started promoting CityEvoke (City Evoke).
Zira isn’t just a character — she’s a reflection of CityEvoke’s motto: anime × neon lights × cyberpunk × citypop. Fierce yet cool, futuristic yet stylish, she captures everything I want this brand to represent. On a deeper level, she’s also a symbol of individuality in a world consumed by neon lights and constant city noise — a character who balances strength with vulnerability.
That’s why the title of this piece, “Neon Dreams,” fits so well. It tells the story of Zira being consumed by the glowing lights of the city — lights so bright and overpowering that they blur the line between reality and fantasy. In many ways, Neon Dreams is about escape: the city’s chaos turning into a surreal, dreamlike experience.
Because Zira was my very first design, she felt like the natural choice for CityEvoke’s landing page. She’s not just another piece in the collection — she’s basically the mascot of the brand.
That said, she’s not quite ready for the first release yet. There are still details I want to refine: her shading, her lighting, the flow of her hair, and the background. Right now, she looks like she’s just there. I want her to breathe with life, to feel like true art rather than just a design.
As CityEvoke (City Evoke) grows, I see Zira evolving too. Maybe she’ll wear more advanced clothing, maybe she’ll ride futuristic vehicles — maybe she’ll become a full character in a story. She’ll grow alongside the brand, and I can’t wait to see where she goes.
📖 Volume 8 – Neon Dreams: Consumed by the City + SMASHCon Attempt
The second design in the Neon Dreams series is titled “Consumed by the City.” It tells the story of two friends being engulfed by the city’s bright neon lights — lights that spread and grow almost like the Venom symbiote, pulling them deeper into the city’s rhythm.
The design uses a panel style, inspired by manga and comics, to capture that sense of storytelling. Instead of simply showing two friends standing in a city, the panels add structure and emotion, creating something more empowering and cinematic. It feels like flipping through pages of a futuristic manga — a glimpse of a bigger world.
The inspirations behind this design came from major cities like Tokyo and New York, but also from vivid events in Sydney that capture that same surreal neon energy. Each city adds its own flavor, layering into the design’s atmosphere.
Unlike Zira (Volume 7), this piece focuses less on one character and more on the relationship between two figures and their environment. The panels, the colors, and the background make it distinct, while still being part of the Neon Dreams universe.
For the Japanese text, I wanted something that carries deeper meaning. The phrase chosen can be read as 「夢に溶け込む」(Yume ni Tokekomu) which translates to “Merging into the dream.” It fits the theme of losing yourself in the city’s glow — where the neon lights and the dreamlike atmosphere become inseparable.
This design was also tied to a personal milestone: my attempt to prepare for SMASHCon. I had a full week planned, but things didn’t go the way I hoped. My heat press arrived just one day before the convention, leaving me less than 12 hours to learn everything. In the end, I realized it wasn’t worth rushing. Instead, I went to SMASHCon with fresh eyes, soaking in the pop-up stores, the incredible art, and the creative energy. It was inspiring to see what others were making — and it gave me the vision that one day, I’ll be selling my own designs there.
While “Consumed by the City” didn’t make it to the first release, it’s not gone. This design will return in a future drop, stronger and more refined. For me, it represents both the chaos of the city and my growth as a creator.
