Website: www.hinydesign.com

Iku moved from Japan to New York City where she made a dear friend and future business partner in Hitomi Watanabe. Both Iku and Hitomi participated in SVA's Internship for Credit program, gaining real world experience at MTV Networks.

As an MTV intern during her senior year, Iku collaborated with Hitomi in designing a variety of popular items that were sold in the MTV Store, such as notebooks, umbrellas and tote bags. Additionally, while still in school, Iku had the opportunity to design internal and external company communications.

Upon graduation Iku and Hitomi were brought on board at MTV as full-time employees. They also worked together at a design studio in Soho before co-founding HI(NY) in 2008. Check out their work at www.hinydesign.com.