Illustration + Design
2023-2025
In addition to UX design, I greatly enjoy working on illustrations and graphics for small runs of printed work. Here are a few pieces that I’ve worked on over the last few years.
Chicago Clay Co-Op 2025
For the opening of the Chicago Clay Co-Op, I worked on a series of posters and postcards inviting people to an open house.
The design itself is a representation of a “lid prop” which is used to hold the kiln lid open as the work cools.
I was asked to reference the feel of the famous Herman-Miller Summer Picnic posters.
When we were initially advertising the space, we explored digital and physical ads.
We conducted interviews with event attendees to determine how they found out about the event.
Over 60% said that they had seen a flyer or poster for the event.
We began to make pamphlets to leave at local coffee shops and community centers.
Results are currently pending, but workshops are filling up!
With the success of physical advertising, we wanted to make approach the ads with a new angle.
One of our more popular workshops is a date night where couples are encouraged to come and have a cozy night out.
I designed shirts and bumper stickers with a simple hand drawn illustration depicting a couple “ghosting” on the wheel.
Michael’s Mugs Halloween 2025
I took a lot of the lessons I learned with the pumpkin patch in 2024 and applied them to my 2025 design. Rather than make multiple unique designs, I wanted to focus on a single design that would be recognizable across different garments-from a hat to a shirt or a banner.
Michael’s Mugs Halloween 2024
In 2024, I wanted to update the sticker project with a limited edition of new designs.
I put together a new group of “Halloween Friends” but this time in costume.
For this project, I worked with another illustrator who assisted with color work.
For “Pumpkin Patch” I really wanted to create a wall of pumpkins that would reward you with detail the further you get into the drawing.
“Pumpkin Mug” was an imagining of one of my pumpkin mugs in gloopy, vine-wrapped, hand drawn glory.
I may or may not have gotten a little carried away in procreate…
2024 also marked my first exploration into embroidered products. Due to the nature of the process, a significant amount of detail is lost, so I had to adapt a simpler design.
Michael’s Mugs Halloween 2023
In 2023 I began to work on a series of illustrations that were loosely based on my ceramic work.
The Idea was to put a sticker (or two) in all of my orders as a thank you.
As a kid, I loved putting stickers on everything. I had a sticker set with tons of different spooky themes; a witch flying in front of the moon, rickety fences with black cats, a skeleton where each bone was an individual sticker so you could articulate them.
I wanted to bring a little bit of that joy and playfulness into each customer opening a box.
“Halloween Friends” was originally an unused design from 2022 that I shelved due to time constraints. It was just a black and white doodle, but it had an energy that I really liked (and still do).
I toyed around with the idea of a coloring book, but adding the orange was as far as I got. Just the right touch.
“November Pumpkin” was designed specifically for a glow in the dark sticker. Because how cool is a glow in the dark sticker when you’re 8 years old? It’s maybe the coolest thing ever.
