Since his mother first handed him a pencil as a toddler, Toronto-based illustrator Jasin Dollin has been drawing anything and everything. He compares the first stage of his drawings to childlike scribbles—and then, almost magically, facial features begin to form, eventually becoming a fully animated face staring right back at him.

In always wanting to create a novel product, Dollin utilized his talent to create the inspired Lil’G Mini Boombox. This mp3 speaker system blends an 80s hip-hop vibe with the millennium’s urban, vinyl-toy look.

Mateo Magazine: Why did you choose to create the Mini Boombox in 3D?
Jasin Dollin: I’ve always loved boomboxes, and so I thought it would really be cool to create one. It kind of started as a Halloween costume; I made myself look like a cartoon b-boy. After that I started to draw many versions of boomboxes in my sketchbook, until I eventually created a rough sketch that I was pleased with. Once I scanned and reworked the image on my laptop, I needed to figure out what to do next. I first found some speakers that I had ripped out of a toy; I thought it would be cool to create a block-shaped pillow boombox—something that I could sit on my desk and enjoy. But when I showed the sketch and rough mock-up to some friends, I was challenged to make it out of plastic. I had no idea how to do so initially, but my industrial-designer friend, Jason Nip (designet.com), said that he'd help me to make a prototype. After creating the boombox in 3D from a sketch, we then made further refinements so that it could be rapidly prototyped.

MM: How did you come to name it Lil’G?
JD: It’s a “ghetto-blaster”; I’ve always used that name. But then I forced myself to be politically correct by calling it a boombox. So, Lil’G means “Little Ghetto Blaster.”

MM: What stage are you at now in the production of Lil’G?
JD: It is going to hit the market this year, and we’re aiming for summer.

MM: That’s exciting. I can’t wait. And where do you see yourself in five years?
JD: I want to make films and television shows based on my character designs and stories. Creating trailers, which I would show to studios and investors for the sake of funding, would be ideal at first.

MM: Finally, what advice would you give to an artist just starting out?
JD: You can do whatever you want; just get up and do it! Keep at it, and the dots will start to connect.

MM: Very inspiring! I will keep on scribbling. Thank You, Jasin.