As MURAKAMI WORLD began rolling out globally today, CASETiFY’s collaboration with Takashi Murakami marks a major step in its CASETiFY Co-Lab series, one that blurs the lines between contemporary art, collectible culture, and personal tech.
Unlike previous partnerships based on pop franchises, this collaboration centers on a singular artistic voice. Murakami’s famous MR. DOB serves as both mascot and artistic through-line for the collection, which features designs across accessories and the brand’s first travel line.
To better understand the creative thinking behind the project, we spoke with CASETiFY Co-founder and CEO Wes Ng. Since launching the company in 2011 as an app for turning Instagram photos into phone cases, Ng has helped scale CASETiFY into a global business with over 900 employees and retail locations across Asia-Pacific and the US.
His background in digital broadcast design, including time at NOW TV and Fox Networks, continues to guide the brand’s approach to creative partnerships, including this one with Murakami. He spoke about the challenges, inspirations, and cultural significance of working directly with one of Japan’s most influential contemporary artists, and you can read his answers below.
Q: CASETiFY has partnered with a diverse range of artists and brands, from Olivia Rodrigo to Heinz. What unique perspectives does Takashi Murakami bring to this collaboration?
A: What began as a conversation in our Hong Kong office evolved into our most significant artist collaboration to date. Working with Murakami brings something truly special to our products—MR. DOB isn’t simply a featured character but the visual cornerstone of his artistic identity, carrying decades of cultural commentary and evolution.
By bringing Murakami’s distinctive vision to our tech accessories, we’re bridging high art and everyday technology in a way that’s both accessible and profound, creating meaningful connections between contemporary art and the devices we use daily.
Q: CASETiFY has also worked with many major anime franchises like One Piece, Gundam, and Jujutsu Kaisen. How does working with Takashi Murakami compare to working with an anime or manga IP?
A: Our anime partnerships and Murakami collaboration represent different creative paths, both bringing tremendous artistic value. With anime franchises, we translate rich storytelling and iconic characters to our products. With Murakami, we’re working directly with the artist to extend his personal artistic journey & vision—embodied by MR. DOB—and bringing that to life on our myriad of canvases like never before.
Both approaches bring exceptional art to our products, just through different creative processes!
Q: Murakami has created many iconic characters over the years. What made MR. DOB the right choice for this collaboration, and how does he fit into CASETiFY’s design vision?
A: MR. DOB was the natural choice for our first collaboration with Takashi-san! Created back in 1993, it’s his signature character—his artistic “avatar” that was originally presented in small scale at his very first exhibitions. We wanted our first collaboration with Murakami to go back to his roots and feel like a full circle moment expressing them on our own small canvases.
What makes MR. DOB perfect is how it balances accessibility with depth. It’s instantly recognizable but also represents Takashi-san’s artistic evolution and cultural commentary. This mirrors what we aim for at CASETiFY—creating visually striking products while carrying meaningful artistic value. DOB helps us introduce Takashi-san’s vision to people who might not have experienced his work in galleries before, bringing that artistic connection into everyday tech interactions.
Q: Murakami’s art is often influenced by anime and otaku culture. Did that connection influence how this collection was designed?
A: Absolutely! Takashi-san’s connection to anime and otaku culture was fundamental to our designs. His work brilliantly blends traditional Japanese art with these contemporary influences, creating something entirely unique.
In our collection, you’ll see pieces that lean into the vibrant, playful energy from his anime influences alongside others that showcase the more refined aspects of his style. MR. DOB itself carries that DNA—it has the immediate appeal of anime characters but with Takashi-san’s distinctive artistic philosophy behind it. We embraced these influences as essential to what makes his work so powerful and accessible.
Q: What were the biggest challenges in adapting Murakami’s signature visual style to CASETiFY’s product range?
A: Adapting Murakami’s signature visual style to our product range presented meaningful challenges that pushed our creative boundaries.
The biggest hurdle was staying true to his original vision while scaling his intricate artwork to our various product “canvases.” His work features complex details and precise color harmony that required careful consideration when translating to different product dimensions – from phone cases to card holders and earbuds.
We balanced aesthetic impact with functionality, ensuring his bold, immersive art complemented rather than compromised our products’ protective features.
Q: Many fans of Murakami’s work also enjoy collecting anime and pop culture merchandise. Did that collector mindset play a role in how this collection was planned?
A: Absolutely, the collector mentality drove this collaboration. Murakami fans don’t just appreciate his art—they collect it passionately. Our customers share that same collecting spirit with our collaborations.
We embraced this from the start, creating pieces that tell a complete story together but shine individually, too. Each item stands as its own artistic statement while still being something you actually want to use daily. It’s the perfect intersection—collectible art that protects your tech and brings joy whenever you reach for your device.
This collector’s passion truly comes to life in our MR. DOB Snappy Trading Card Holder and MR. DOB Collectible Earbud Case! We know how precious Murakami’s trading cards are to fans, so we created the MR. DOB card holder—it’s a beautiful way to showcase these treasures while adding another special piece to your collection. Our earbuds follow that same spirit, designed for those who cherish Murakami’s colorful universe and want to carry that joy with them everywhere. Both celebrate the deep connection between Murakami and his devoted collectors, turning everyday tech accessories into meaningful pieces of art that honor your passion and bring a smile every time you use them.
Q: CASETiFY collaborations often tap into fandom culture, whether it’s anime, gaming, or contemporary art. How do you see artist-driven collections like this changing the way people interact with everyday tech accessories?
A: Artist collaborations like our partnership with Takashi-san are transforming tech accessories from purely functional items into meaningful objects of self-expression.
When someone carries Murakami’s MR. DOB on their device, they’re making a statement about their connection to contemporary art and culture—similar to how people express identity through fashion or music, but now extending to the devices we interact with constantly.
These collaborations blur traditional boundaries between high art, pop culture, and everyday objects. Our customers aren’t just buying products; they’re engaging with artistic expressions in a personal, tactile way that creates new entry points into art appreciation while elevating daily objects into something culturally significant.
Q: Murakami’s Superflat movement blends fine art and commercial aesthetics. Do you think this collaboration is a reflection of that philosophy?
A: Superflat is about removing distinctions between high and low art forms, and this collection lives in that space perfectly. When Takashi-san brings MR. DOB to tech accessories, he’s continuing his long-standing artistic practice of questioning where art belongs.
These products don’t just carry his icons—they embody his philosophy that art should move freely between cultural spaces. A phone case, for example, becomes both a functional object and an artistic statement, existing in multiple worlds simultaneously.
That makes this collaboration deeply authentic to Takashi-san’s vision and so exciting for us at CASETiFY.
Q: CASETiFY has built a strong connection with anime and pop culture. Do you see more artist collaborations tied to anime and manga in the future?
A: The intersection of art and anime continues to inspire us! We’re always exploring creative partnerships that push boundaries.
Q: What do you personally find most exciting about working on projects like this? Is there a particular type of collaboration, whether with artists, anime, or other creative fields, you’d love to explore in the future?
A: What excites me most about these projects is witnessing the creative exchange that happens when different worlds collide. For this collection, seeing Takashi-san’s artistic vision translate to our products creates something entirely new that couldn’t exist in either space alone.
These collaborations challenge our team to innovate in meaningful ways— developing breakthrough production techniques and design approaches that transform bold visions into reality. Each partnership pushes us to expand our creative boundaries and discover new possibilities in our craft!
We extend our thanks to Wes Ng for taking the time to share his thoughts! You can find the latest CASETiFY collection in their retail locations worldwide and online through its Co-Lab platform.
All images @TM/KK @CASETiFY @CASETiFY_CoLab
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