SoftwareBoy, Start of a Creative Journey.

SoftwareBoy began as a brand and, over the years, transformed into the artistic identity of Niccolò, a 23-year-old Italian who founded the project.

It wasn’t conceived as a simple brand: it is the result of years of creative exploration, experimentation, and personal growth. But where did it all begin? Niccolò, the mind behind SoftwareBoy, started his journey in 2019, driven by a desire to shape an identity that reflected his vision of design and visual culture.

Initially, the project was launched on Instagram under the name “NextRetroWave,” a reference to aesthetics inspired by the future and nostalgia. The idea was to develop a clothing line, but even then, Niccolò experimented with mock-ups for t-shirts and hoodies inspired by movies, alongside his first attempts at visual design. After several months, however, the name changed: NextRetroWave became SoftwareBoy. Why? That remains a secret, but what’s certain is that from that moment on, the name has stuck. “I’ve always really liked it. Even though it sounds like the name of a software or coding company, these are things I studied in school. My passion for computers was partly tied to this too. Since I was 13, I’ve been downloading older versions of Unreal Engine and Unity, experimenting with them by following tutorials. I’ve never felt the need to change the name I gave it years ago,” Niccolò explains.

From Exploration to Professionalism
For many months, the project was a testing ground filled with experiments and research. It was only after the 2020 lockdown that it began to take on a more defined direction, starting with Blender, the first 3D software Niccolò used, and gradually evolving into a professional reality. “I can’t say there was a specific moment when everything became ‘official.’ It was more of a process, a natural evolution. I just know that I was very lucky. Even while I was still learning, I started receiving my first commissions,” he recalls.

Niccolò’s creative essence thrives on curiosity and a constant drive toward what hasn’t been done yet. This search leads him to explore new techniques, new worlds, and new ways of expressing his visual thinking. As he says: “It’s precisely in the moments when I think, ‘I’ve never made a sculpture,’ or ‘I’ve never made a car,’ that I feel most inspired. Even though the results of my previous work brought me temporary satisfaction, I’m always driven by the desire to move on to something new, something I’ve never done before, to experiment with the next project.”

The Vision Behind SoftwareBoy
Today, SoftwareBoy is a brand that blends aesthetics, experimentation, and cultural influences. Cinema, video games, and pop culture are just a few of the elements that inspire Niccolò. Every project emerges from a creative process where technique and imagination merge to create something truly unique.

“I don’t see myself as a designer, but as someone who loves to create and, more and more, to give meaning and value to each of my projects,” he explains. His vision goes beyond the final product: each piece of work is a step forward in refining his methods, a continuous process of learning and innovation.

SoftwareBoy: A Project in Continuous Evolution

SoftwareBoy has never been static. Since its inception, the brand has stood out for its ability to reinvent itself, experimenting with new techniques and technologies. This constant evolution is what makes it special reference point for those seeking design that challenges traditional boundaries.

“As SoftwareBoy, I want to create something that truly speaks about me or my thoughts, but at the same time surprises those who see it,” Niccolò concludes. And so, the project continues to grow, finding a balance between aesthetics and a dose of unpredictability that perfectly reflects his personality and his ever-evolving lifestyle.