Graphic Designers You Need To Follow ASAP
I'm not going to lie. I'm kind of a design geek. I love discovering new artists and designers as much as I love discovering a new band or music genre.
The artists I've had on my radar lately have introduced me to some interesting mixes: patterns, minimalism, abstract color palettes, playful use of shapes, psychedelics, etc.
Not only do I love designers, but I am also a sucker for branding. Recently, I've been inspired by brands that are evolving from traditional advertising and pushing more towards introducing art and culture in their promotional mix. They've not only championed branding and digital media marketing, but they have also been pioneers when incorporating art and culture in brands that we all know and love.
Velvet Spectrum
Led by Luke Choice, Velvet Spectrum is a creative studio that is based in Portland, Oregon. Choice's work incorporates dynamic colors and shapes, bold typography, and motion graphics that are branding tools for various clients like Adidas, Google, and Adobe.
I discovered Velvet Spectrum by following Refinery29, a digital media and entertainment company tailored for young women. Each year, Refinery29 puts on "29Rooms," an interactive funhouse of style, culture, and technology designed by various artists. Velvet Spectrum's collaboration with 29Rooms explored the small moments that spark creativity.
Merijn Hos
Merijn Hos is an illustrator based in the Netherlands. Much like Velvet Spectrum, their work showcases detailed psychedelics. Clients of Hoss include Nike, Calvin Klein, and Dropbox.
While Hoss' work is bold and illusory by nature, their portfolio is extremely minimalist, down to the descriptions. This goes to show that at times the work you produce speaks for itself and do not require extensive details.
Leslie David
If you love Glossier and #girlboss, then you're already familiar with the designer behind the brands. Leslie David is a French designer, illustrator and art director who specializes in fashion, beauty, art, and culture. Her work taps into various categories like print, branding, film and digital.
David's work is delicate and intimate by nature. I'm particularly fascinated by David's work with typography. One of her most interesting projects includes creating type out of Chanel makeup products in 2012.
Marleigh Culver Simple designs tend to go a long way. Marleigh Culver's work is just that, showcasing minimalist design with dominant color palettes. Her overall aesthetic is romantic and abstract, and she often uses plants as her subject matters.
Culver has worked with organizations like Teen Vogue where she created zodiac illustrations for their horoscope column in April 2016.
