Kiwi Gabdaw
Kiwi Gadbaw, the artist behind our Seattle Sea Salt truffle bar and Football chocolate truffle, is a designer from Auckland, New Zealand, living in Seattle, Washington. Before becoming a full-time designer, Kiwi played rugby for 17 years and captained the University of Washington rugby team while obtaining a degree in Industrial Design. He has since taken his passion for sport and put it into his designs. Kiwi draws inspiration for his art from sports nostalgia, 90’s cartoons, and Japanese culture, which helps him create art that evokes the feeling of being young at heart. He has designed artwork for professional athletes and musicians while stewarding his own apparel and design company, Seven Design Studio. Learn more atsevendesign.com.
Q & A with Kiwi Gabdaw
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What inspired the designs behind the Football chocolates collection?
I am an avid football fan so when I was tasked to design the football bar I was pumped. I thought of the most exciting plays to watch in football: big hits and one handed catches. After a couple of drafts, Seattle Chocolate and I came to pick the one-handed catch to be on the bar.
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How do you use sports as inspiration for your work?
I was an athlete for 17 years and played at an international level in rugby. After I retired, I missed the grind and passion that I was putting into my game every week. So I decided I was going to treat design like a sport and put the dedication I once had out on the field into my craft. The fast-paced action of sports keeps people on the edge of their seat and so I aim to create designs that pop and capture that feeling.
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What’s the next big project your are excited about?
I own and design for DWG Apparel, an official University of Washington streetwear and lifestyle brand. I have been working full time on the company for two years now and it is really starting to pick up. If you're a UW student of just a fan of the Dawgs you should check us out!
“The roar of the crowd in a packed stadium. That intense moment when your favorite wide receiver goes for the game-winning catch. Kiwi illustrated a nail-biting play perfectly because Kiwi knows sports. His work runs the gamut, from basketball to baseball and everything in between, of capturing why sports bring people together the world over to celebrate and cheer. His football illustration literally jumps off the truffle bar.”
Mellina White - Director of Ecommerce