A more positive point of view is really needed these days, says the designer of these new cheerful Curaprox toothbrushes.
Funny creatures with smiling faces, simple shapes and expressive colour combinations are significant features of Cristina Capristo’s artworks. Read the interview with this Italian designer and designer of Curaprox’s new special edition of toothbrushes, Happy Lil Teeth, to learn how she gets inspired and what the main purpose of her work is.
What was your path to becoming a designer?
I studied interior design and learned the basics to experiment in many areas of design.
What projects do you usually work on? What do you enjoy the most?
I often work in the world of product, graphics and communication design, but what I prefer is graphic illustration.
What inspires you?
I find inspiration in everyday life. I can get new ideas from talking to a friend, when I listen to music or read the news, or just from doing normal daily things like going to the supermarket or having a cup of coffee.
What are your daily rituals that you can’t imagine your day without?
I couldn’t give up small rituals like cooking what I love, talking to my favourite people and taking care of the plants that live with me.
How did the collaboration with Curaprox start?
I discovered the Curaprox competition almost by chance, and it was love at first sight and I started creating the design instantly. It was an immense emotion to know that they liked the idea, too.
At the beginning of 2021, Curaprox launched a design challenge on the Jovoto platform to encourage designers from all around the world to upload their design proposals for a double pack of Curaprox CS 5460 toothbrushes. More than 1,400 different design proposals were registered. Based on the voting from within the Jovoto community, as well as public voting on the Curaprox website, the six best designs have been chosen. Special editions of toothbrushes with these selected designs will be produced and sold around the world. For the designers, this is an opportunity to see their own designs on store shelves and in bathrooms around the world, and also to be showcased by both Curaprox and Jovoto. The winning designs will be launched, and their designers will be presented on Curaprox’s media platforms, in 2021 and 2022.
What’s the idea behind your special edition of toothbrushes? What did you want to express?
I synthesise the complexity of the world through the play of shapes, trying to see things in a simpler way. How do I do that? I tell stories by creating nice little creatures. These creatures always have an open and positive attitude, and I put a smile on their faces as my distinguishing mark. So that is my purpose: I want to spread good vibes and create positive feelings.
How did you choose the colours of the toothbrushes and packaging?
I usually work with the colour palette that is also present here. It is part of my personal method of communication. Many colours for many people!
What was the biggest challenge of this design?
The most difficult challenge was to create something fun in a simple but fundamental task like brushing your teeth.
How would you like people to think about your toothbrush?
I feel good every time someone looks at my drawings and smiles. I think we all need positive attitudes, even when life is hard, especially nowadays.
Did you know Curaprox before the collaboration?
I use Curaprox products regularly, I’m a huge fan – especially of the toothbrushes. Imagine the thrill of creating my own design for these products that I really like!
Is there any dream product that you would like to collaborate on?
I like the concept of “design for all”. I dream of collaborating with large companies that produce goods that are useful and accessible to all.
Cristina Capristo, 25, is a designer based in the city of Turin, northern Italy. Beside her daily tasks in product, communication and graphic design she loves to illustrate in her free time. As she says, she has created a personal playground in which she experiments with super easy colours and shapes. And even if it started out as a game, now it is an all-encompassing aspect of her existence. Follow fioreandtheirfriends to see Cristina’s artwork.
