RIEKO NAITO — HAND-DRAWN ILLUSTRATOR
Real dogs. Drawn by hand. Designed to hold a life.
実在する犬を見つめ、手で描き、使えるデザインへ。
WHY I MAKE THIS COLLECTION
I am a researcher of funerary culture and a hand-drawn illustrator with experience creating illustrations for newspaper media. My peer-reviewed study, ‘The Treatment of Pets as Family Members and Changes in Funeral Culture,’ examined how contemporary pet memorial practices differ from older forms of animal memorialization. As pets have become family members, people create personal stories about where their animals have gone and how they may meet again.
This collection translates that research into editable designs for everyday life, memory, farewell, and remembrance. The living collection is inspired by the Chihuahua who shares my life today. The memorial collection is inspired by the Chihuahua who came before.
LIVING WITH A CHIHUAHUA — Designs for life as it is being lived
01 — Chihuahua Profile Kit
An editable visual profile for a dog’s name, personality, favorite things, daily rhythm, and a family message.
02 — Chihuahua Personal Card
A printable two-sided introduction card combining an original hand-drawn portrait, a short personality statement, and space for a photo or social link.
03 — My Chihuahua Life Journal
A gentle daily journal for small discoveries, favorite moments, walks, play, photographs, and a changing relationship.
IN MEMORY OF A CHIHUAHUA — Designs for a relationship that continues through memory
04 — Our Little Story Continues
A memorial story template for family nicknames, daily rituals, favorite places, small episodes, imagined afterlife, and words to share when we meet again.
05 — Chihuahua Farewell Ceremony Kit
A coordinated farewell set for an announcement, order of service, photographs, memories, and a family message, with editable religious or nonreligious wording.
06 — Days of Remembrance
A memorial journal for anniversaries, seasonal memories, dreams, letters, photographs, and the habits that remain.
RESEARCH INTO DESIGN
Research insight: contemporary pet memorial practices are shaped by the pet’s place within the family. People create small personal narratives about the animal’s afterlife and hope for reunion.
Design response: center the individual animal; record nicknames, habits and small stories; allow an imagined afterlife without imposing one religious answer; include ‘What would you like to say when you meet again?’; and never diagnose grief or demand recovery.
MADE BY HAND
Own photo or archive photo → Observation and memory notes → Rough sketch → Drawing by hand on paper or pen tablet → Minimal digital finish → Editable template
Original hand-drawn artwork by Rieko Naito. AI-generated pose sheets are not included in the submitted work. The final illustrations are based on my own dogs, my own photographs, and my own observation.
RESEARCH REFERENCE
Rieko Naito, ‘The Treatment of Pets as Family Members and Changes in Funeral Culture,’ Journal of Religious Studies, Vol. 85, No. 1, 2011, pp. 151–173. DOI: 10.20716/rsjars.85.1_151
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Rieko Naito / 内藤理恵子 — Hand-drawn illustrator, Ph.D. researcher, and cross-platform creator.