Inside Paul Metsers’ approach to mockups that balance street and studio

In a saturated market, Paul Metsers recognised an opportunity to bring something more human to mockup design. Drawing from his background in fashion photography and client work with WeTransfer and Loop Earplugs, he founded Akoya Mockups around a three-pillar philosophy inspired by the Japanese pearl. With a large community of Instagram followers offering direct feedback on what’s missing, Akoya has evolved from a passion project to a trusted resource. In this conversation, Metsers discusses his creative process, the role of AI in mockup creation, and why shooting in real locations will always trump algorithmic generation. TBI: Hey Paul, could you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you discovered your path into design? PM: Sure! I started out studying UX design, which gave me a solid foundation in understanding how people interact with design as a whole. Pretty early on though, I realised my real passion was on the visual side, more UI-focused, with some animation as well. I’ve always been drawn to the look and feel of things, and over time, I discovered it was an area where I could contribute. Shifting into the visual field felt like a natural step.