Hayley Chiplin has gone from the kid who was drawing before she was talking, to a graphic design lecturer coaching the next generation of creatives, to the owner of Australia’s first tattoo studio in a university setting at the Australian National University.
Tell us about your organisation and your role within it.
“Hachi Studio is located in the heart of the Kambri Precinct at ANU. It is owned and operated by an independent female artist, with a focus on Neo Traditional, Oriental, and Realistic style tattoos. Cover-ups and reworks of existing tattoos are always welcome. The studio is founded on an ethos of thoughtfulness, mutual respect, and body-positive progressiveness.”
What is the most rewarding part of your job? And the most challenging?
“The most rewarding part of my job is bringing to life the ideas of my clients, particularly providing tattoo services to individuals who are recovering from difficult periods in their lives. My clients often feel like their ideas won’t translate into a workable tattoo design, and my role is to guide that possibility.
“The most rewarding part is also the most challenging – making sure my clients feel their trust in me is justified.”
What inspired you to start Hachi Studio?
“Working as a lecturer was such a fantastic addition to my career as a tattoo artist, teaching and guiding the next generation and helping young designers build self-confidence and a strong portfolio focused on freelance, illustration and alternative style arts. Opening Hachi Studio has been the next chapter with the same goal of creating a safe, creative space for people to enhance their body positivity.”
Where to from here?
“Expansion! I’m already looking at renting a larger space in the same street so I can work with more artists, possibly branch out into other avenues like workshops for screen printing or design classes, and focusing on bringing the industry out of a darker period and into a more progressive and positive space.”
To find out more or to book an appointment, email [email protected]
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