A Custom Installation for iSquare
This custom digital mosaic was commissioned by iSquare S.A. for its updated headquarters as a tribute to its technological legacy. The artwork spells out "HELLO" using interface elements from four decades of Apple's history, including colorized Susan Kare's iconic icons, Apple II references, and modern iSquare service elements. Created as a centerpiece for the space, it embodies the personal connection between the artist and Apple since the mid-80s. The piece combines digital artistry with analog finishing techniques to create a multi-dimensional tribute that plays with light and invites viewers to engage with Apple's history.
I first connected with Apple in the mid-80s in Athens. At that time, Rainbow Computer was the main way into this world, and it later became iSquare, Apple’s Authorized Distributor for Greece and Cyprus. Over the years, we’ve built a close relationship. I’ve been a loyal customer, and sometimes, they’ve been mine.
After working together on their 10th anniversary project, they recently asked me to create a centerpiece for their updated headquarters.
The Challenge of the Icon
As a designer who grew up using a Mac, the Apple logo is probably the image I’ve seen most in my life. This made the challenge feel especially meaningful. How do you make someone feel welcome in an Apple space? How do you show that these machines are more than just tools—they become part of your daily life, helping with every late-night idea and almost feeling like family?
I also wanted this experience to feel connected to Greece. Steve Jobs admired the Greek spirit and philosophy, and he often talked about how technology and the liberal arts come together. With this piece, I tried to bring those ideas together—a modern tribute to the old Mediterranean way of telling stories through fragments.
The Concept: Simplicity through Complexity
At first, my sketches were more abstract, inspired by Gestalt theory and the Movimento Arte Concreta. But I realized that the best answer was also the most personal. The first thing visitors should see is the iconic "Hello," the friendly, cursive greeting from the original 1984 Macintosh that still greets us today.
The Process: Digital Memory to Analog Depth
I created this "Hello" as a digital mosaic made from interface elements that cover four decades of my life with the Mac. It includes:
• The famous, playful icons designed by Susan Kare.
• The 8-bit style of the Apple II and its early games.
• Pixelated references to iSquare’s current services and identity.
To make it physical, we used a 12-color giclee print on special paper. Then the hands-on work started. Vera, my wife and precious collaborator with a real passion for everything analog, carefully finished the piece by cutting, layering, and painting the edges to give it three-dimensional depth. With different varnishes, metallic pigments, and foils, the pixels seem to come alive.
The Result
The artwork is designed to be alive; it plays with the light as you move around it, inviting you to come closer and touch the history it contains. An office space should reflect the brand culture it houses. For iSquare and Apple, that culture is a vibrant, multi-dimensional welcome to a world of endless creation.
The actual analog artwork.
This close-up reveals the intricate details of the "HELLO" mosaic created for iSquare's headquarters. Each tile contains pixelated interface elements spanning four decades of Apple's technological evolution.
The completed “HELLO” digital mosaic hangs prominently in iSquare's updated headquarters, crafted from four decades of interface icons. It serves as a vibrant, personal tribute to Apple’s legacy and the artist’s lifelong connection with the brand.
Special thanks to Efi Kontouli and everyone at iSquare. You are amazing an amazing team!