Collaborating creatively as a couple might sound daunting for some, but for Tbilisi-based partners Sasha Akhramenko and Artem Tarasov, it’s the cornerstone of their success. Sasha, founder of After Hours Workshop, and Artem, co-founder of the design studio Together With You, have built a distinctive and ever-evolving visual identity for After Hours that thrives on experimentation, unpredictability, and the art of handmade craftsmanship.
Crafting Sustainability Through Handmade Work
Sasha founded After Hours Workshop with the aim of showcasing the value of craftsmanship and the significance of handmade work. Each product is crafted by Sasha herself, using natural materials and a diverse range of techniques. From multimedia keychains to delicate glass fungi, every product drop is unique, reflecting the brand’s commitment to creativity and sustainability.
The brand’s visual identity mirrors this ethos, rejecting uniformity or cohesion in favor of fluidity and unpredictability. “We believe in the meta-modernistic nature of contemporary culture,” Sasha explains, referring to a philosophy that deconstructs and reassembles existing cultural forms to create something entirely new.
A Free-Form Approach to Design
The creative process behind After Hours’ visual presence begins with one question: What if we do things the opposite way? Artem and Sasha approach every new product drop by challenging conventional design rules, including typography, composition, and structure.
One of the most striking elements of their work is their expressive use of typefaces. They blend seemingly contradictory fonts—like the blocky, video game-inspired Therma from Astrae Studio, Google’s typewriter-like Special Elite, and various stamp-style fonts. Together, these disparate styles create a modern and compelling aesthetic that embodies the experimental spirit of After Hours.
This experimental approach extends beyond typography. The brand’s visual world incorporates photography, videos, 3D elements, and Sasha’s own illustrations, making every piece a collaborative exploration of creativity. The pair’s list of collaborators is ever-growing, contributing to After Hours’ eclectic and innovative style.
The Tools Behind the Experimentation
Building such a dynamic and visually rich brand requires the right tools. The After Hours website, for example, is built using Readymag, a platform that offers freedom to create unconventional layouts. While the manual nature of the platform can be time-consuming, Artem believes the lack of constraints aligns perfectly with After Hours’ ethos: “It allows for a truly free-form board,” he explains, “which feels natural for what we do.”
Details as a Medium of Honesty
For Sasha, the success of After Hours lies in the details. “Details are like words in a story,” she says. “I want the After Hours community to have a complete experience where they don’t feel deceived—details are about honesty.”
This attention to detail creates a sense of authenticity that resonates with the brand’s audience. Beyond aesthetics, Artem hopes the After Hours community takes inspiration from the brand’s philosophy: “We really hope that AH, as a medium, delivers a sense that ‘anything is possible’ and that there’s absolutely no reason to limit your creativity.”
Unbounded Creativity and Community Connection
By merging Sasha’s dedication to craftsmanship with Artem’s boundary-pushing design sensibilities, After Hours Workshop represents more than a brand—it’s a testament to the power of creative collaboration and the limitless possibilities of design. With their experimental, meta-modern approach, Sasha and Artem invite their audience into a visual world where craft, detail, and imagination are celebrated in equal measure.
