Be Present watch straps by migrating lines for UNIMATIC
UNIMATIC taps Migrating Lines to create a series of custom watch straps depicting the time from sunset to sunrise. The web2 and web3 artist brings their character Dino and his magical worlds to Milan Design Week 2025, releasing twelve custom watch straps named Be Present. Each represents a two-hour window of the day. In an interview with designboom, Migrating Lines says they’ve been drawn to the concept of time with watch straps for UNIMATIC.
‘In this collaboration, we created a set of straps, each one representing a specific time of the day and following the cycle from sunrise to sunset. Each also comes with a comic that tells a little story or gives a small piece of advice about being in the present. They all work together, but at the same time, they also function individually,’ they say.
all images courtesy of UNIMATIC, unless stated otherwise
Positive messages and affirmations on the bands
It’s a two-part story for Migrating Lines’ vibrant watch straps. On the left, their name in cursive form appears next to the corresponding time of the day. On the right, a series of quotes and one-liners hype up, encourage, and inspire the wearer, along with fun, line-styled comics of Dino and other characters. For the artist, the messages and their illustrations don’t have to be grand and life-size. It’s about focusing on small things, a form of reminder, a nudge. ‘It’s always about delivering a positive message,’ they say, a set of affirmations to make it through night and day.
Dino is the central figure in Migrating Lines’ illustrations. When designboom visits UNIMATIC flagship store during Milan Design Week 2025, the artist shows us the character’s portal, the one they use to travel through different worlds. It’s a hollow funnel with rainbow cubes around the top circle. Inside, there are white ‘teeth’ along the ridge of the loop. Dino stands on top of these, feet on two different ends of the white teeth, as he smiles and does a peace sign with his fingers. With his bright blue hair and wide, toothless smile, Dino gives off a joyous and easy-going nature, and he’s not a stranger to Migrating Lines. ‘Dino is actually my alter ego,’ the artist tells us.
view of the 4pm watch strap in the Be Present series by UNIMATIC and Migrating Lines
Recurring themes of dino, portal, and magical worlds
The portal, Dino, and the other characters in the magical worlds recur in Migrating Lines’ bodies of work. They appear in the collection that has already been exhibited in more than 15 cities worldwide, including Art Basel Miami, Times Square, the Cafa Art Museum in Beijing, and Museo della Permanente in Milan. Each of the characters and the worlds has a personality and even a specific location in the story. They admit, however, that in each collaboration, one might stand out more than the rest. With UNIMATIC watch straps, it’s Dino and his portal.
What these collaborative works share is being in the present, similar to their vibrant works at Milan Design Week 2025. ‘Each one is part of the story, and each has the word now written in its own way. It’s not about numbers. It’s about being in the moment. Whether it’s writing, dreaming, connecting with someone, or even taking a shower; that’s the essence of the collaboration,’ the artist shares with designboom.
as seen on the right, a series of quotes and one-liners inspire the wearer
It’s a meticulous process to bring Dino and his friends and worlds to life. At the UNIMATIC store in Milan, Migrating Lines explains to designboom that in terms of animation, they’re blending traditional Japanese frame-by-frame drawing with modern 3D software. ‘The goal is to surprise the viewer and make them wonder: is it hand-drawn or is it digital?,’ they say. At the venue, a mix of both entertains the guests, a glimpse into the artist’s colorful thinking.
The event becomes a time for people to meet the artist in real life. It’s not part of their plan because they do want to stay fully anonymous. They understand, however, that with collaborations and at events, they meet people. ‘But over the years, we’ve worked to remove all the boundaries of origin or identity. It’s about keeping a sense of magic, and focusing entirely on the art and the message. That’s what this persona is about,’ they say.
the positive messages surround the fun, line-styled comics of Dino and other characters
UNIMATIC taps Migrating Lines for custom watch straps depicting the time from sunset to sunrise
the set of custom and swappable watch straps come with collectible stickers
