An award-winning freelance art director, designer, and illustrator, his clients include giants like Porsche, Target, Tesla, New York Magazine, and HarperCollins. Recent projects include branding a bioengineering research lab, designing packaging for Serenbe Foods, and illustrating a unique map of the city of New Orleans for AIGA’s 2015 Conference.

A New York Times best-selling book illustrator and designer, Shaw’s work has received PRINT Magazine’s “Best In Class” designation for hand-lettering, as well as PRINT’s Regional Design Awards, HOW Design’s Marketing and Promotion Awards, and recognition in AIGA, The Dieline, and the Social Good Design Awards.

Describing himself as a maker and a builder, Shaw aims to create brand identity systems through individualized attention and personal relationships that help clients create value in their communities and customers’ lives. According to Shaw, design work should be strong, unique, and ownable so that the personality of the brand is specific to the visual identity to fuel recognition.

At the same time, good design should also be simple enough to be a vessel of that message that others can fill in overtime. But more importantly: design should have a level of empathy—a way to convey the emotional traits of the brand’s personality, and to connect in a way that matters and sticks with the audience on a more personal level.

“Good design cannot fix bad content,” stresses Shaw. “Even if the design of a logo is excellent, if the company proves to be of poor quality or terrible service, over time, we will come to observe the brand’s mark as being representative of something negative.”

Aspiring designers should take note!

The post Russell Shaw’s Design Philosophy Includes a Healthy Dose of Empathy appeared first on MyTrendTales.

“I’m constantly inspired by the world around me,” admits Lee in an interview with Flaunt. “I never know when I’ll be inspired. It could be of a sculpture made of spider webs then maybe I could be enamored by the trash I see floating down the drain. I’ve also noticed that inspiration is a perspective. I could see something one day and feel nothing at all then see it again in a different light and it would be everything to me.”

Her inspirations resulted in a plethora of personas, with much experimentation. “I’ve been through a few identity shifts in the last 6 years of my internet kingdom before becoming Princess Gollum,” she explained. “Princess Gollum is someone you don’t want to mess with. She’s still sweet and kind but she’s tougher than ever now, she knows what’s going on and she must be respected and protected at all costs.”

Join her growing fanbase on Instagram.

The post Princess Gollum Will Inspire You to Experiment With Your Identity appeared first on MyTrendTales.

“With 65k followers on Instagram and solo exhibitions around the world, their specific papercut and backlit style has made quite a splash. “We would say that we are storytellers and we are using this medium to transport the viewer into our world,” they explained, poetically, in an interview with ACTFAQs. “We have worked and developed this style which is very unique,” they note. “We are still pushing ourselves within this art form to tell these stories in a better way.”

According to the duo, stories have so many shades and depth in them, and paper as a medium has the exact qualities to reflect and interpret them. “We start with a story,” they explain the creative process that takes place behind the scenes.”Our art is a collaborative process, so it might be something we come across during our travel or something we imagine. We then sketch it out and hand-cut these intricate layers. The next phase is putting the layers together, depending on how it interacts with light, making some last-minute tweaks. This is the most crucial part of our work.”

The whole process takes between 8 to 10 days depending on the size and the intricacy of what they are creating. “The idea of using paper as a sculpting medium and forming 3D dioramas is something that is really new,” Hari & Deepti note, “but there is a fresh wave of artists trying out paper art. We hope to have more artists exploring this medium.”

Follow their Instagram page for more.

The post Hari & Deepti Turn Paper and Light Into Magical Landscapes appeared first on MyTrendTales.

But he is most known for his sculptures. Made of stainless steel, glass, and LED lights, they present an ethereal reality that gestures towards the theatricality of minimalism and formalism. “My work is my best attempt at giving the impossible, the infinite, a physical, objective existence,” he explained once in an interview with Aesthetica Magazine. “The materials are merely an extension of the gesture.”

There is a minimalistic simplicity to his work, and yet it expresses something infinite (a “pluralistic paradox”, according to James). “I’ve tried to visually demonstrate the colossally vast and the infinitesimally small,” he says, “the cosmos and the divinity inside oneself.”

According to James, his intention is to express science, spirituality, and philosophy in an object the purest and most honest way he knows how. His work – exhibited internationally in galleries, museums, and art fairs – can also be experienced through his Instagram page, though best perceived live.

The post Anthony James’ Art Captures the Beauty of the Infinite appeared first on MyTrendTales.

But when it comes to the creative process itself, Milan surprisingly describes it as “basic”. “The hardest part of my job is finding a good quote or a word,” he relayed in an interview with Wix. “I could spend hours looking for a good one.” Once he has a text, he starts making sketches in different styles. After choosing the best one, he then proceeds to trace it with a marker, brush or digitally on a tablet. Finally, he puts the lettering on a photo or image, adding some finishing touches.

“I usually work with tablets like Wacom and iPad Pro with the Apple pencil,” he says, describing his toolbox, “but I also love working with Crayola markers and Tombow brush pens. They’re such great tools for every lettering artist. As for the digital process, I usually work with Photoshop for different cool effects.”

His different approach to both typography and design has attracted brands as big as Apple, Huawei, Facebook, Pepsi, and Adobe, all of which have commissioned work from him. You’d want to see what the hype is all about:

The post This Typography Artist Experiments with Colors, Textures, and Shapes appeared first on MyTrendTales.

Amongst her more unique creation are botanical hoops featuring plants and flowers. Printed on textile and framed in a wooden hoop these watercolor illustrations promise to bring a soft and natural touch to your home. “We at Olislagers have a passion for art and are inspired by nature,” reads her website. “Plants bring a room to life in a way that nothing else can. But let’s be honest, these living creatures need space, light, water and lots of love. With this new collection, we offer everyone the possibility to create an urban jungle however big or small.”

With most of her illustrations centered around the natural world, Olislagers is clearly drawn to the outdoors. Nature also provides her with endless inspiration. “With the coming and going of seasons, there is always something to discover,” she writes. “Whether it’s small like a flower in bloom or big as the ever-changing lights and colors in the sky, all you have to do is take a step back, really look around you and find that there is beauty everywhere.”

You can also follow her Instagram page, for more or less the same effect:

The post Birgitt Olislagers Captures the Fleeting Beauty In Nature appeared first on MyTrendTales.

But as her brand grew, so has her desire shifted towards teaching others her skills, and passing her knowledge onwards. Defining herself as a teacher and a blogger, Bugbee now teaches calligraphy and watercolor painting and shares her tips and tricks on her blog. Noteworthy blogposts include 10 ‘Stuck at Home’ Project Suggestions and The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy.

“The best advice I can give about learning calligraphy is you have to enjoy your practice,” she writes. “Yes, use structured resources like an online course or a worksheet, but also let yourself have fun. As you start to get the hang of how to use a dip pen, take on engaging projects.” According to Bugbee, as long as your practice is enjoyable, you’ll continue to hone your skills.

Her blog is a great tool for aspiring calligraphers, but you can also enjoy Bugbee’s work without dipping your pen via Instagram:

The post Now is a Great Time to Improve Your Handwriting appeared first on MyTrendTales.

Born in Canada and based in Portugal, her patterns can be found around the globe, on products from decor to paper to fabric to bedding for clients like Cloud9 Fabrics, Crate + Kids, Tokyu Hands Japan, Mixbook and many more.

Her highly considered patterns and illustrations are lovingly assembled, piece by piece, creating an altogether unique compilation of colors and shapes. According to Olwen, a strong collection of patterns is one that has the perfect balance of cohesion and contrast, “a bunch of motifs, shapes or qualities that come together perfectly, and then something quite different to break it up,” she notes. “And a really beautiful color palette.”

Her uplifting designs are greatly inspired by the world around her—from the beautiful forests of Ontario, to the pastel colors and tiles of Lisbon, to her cherished and plentiful travels abroad, and her own journey of self-exploration toward wholeheartedness. “Nature is at the top of the list,” she stresses. “I love flowers and leaves and trees and it never ceases to amaze me how each one is so unique. I find that idea so inspiring.”

Take a look at some of her patterns in the gallery below:

The post This Pattern Designer Makes the World a Prettier Place appeared first on MyTrendTales.

“I’m not that serious of a person, and neither is Working Girls,” explained Maynard in an interview with the Urban Outfitters blog. “I hope that people who follow along and buy our products find some entertainment with our merch. I don’t take myself too seriously and am proud that that is translated through Working Girls.”

Based in Cincinnati, Maynard’s brand began as a line of pool floats shaped like different body parts.“My focus now is mainly design and installation, but I love teaching myself new skills, so who knows what the next thing will be,” says Maynard. In the meanwhile, you can head over to her online store where you can find a mixture of apparel, accessories, and other oddities.

The post This Brand Doesn’t Want You to Take it Seriously appeared first on MyTrendTales.

If lettering is all about that personal touch, Griffo’s got it in spades. Her posts are playful and inspiring without being too preachy. But she admits it took her much practice to get to where she is. “As a graphic designer, typography has been a passion of mine as long as I can remember,” she admitted. “I used to write, and rewrite my class notes until they were as close to perfect as possible. I learned so much about the art of type as a design student, and I interned at a letterpress studio to learn more about the origin of type. I wanted to learn more about hand lettering because I knew it would bring a unique and personalized touch to the work I was doing with my design clients.”

Her curiosity about hand lettering would blossom into a full-time job a while later. “I took the class as a creative outlet,” she says. “While it related directly to the work I do daily, it was a step away from the computer, a new challenge. I was excited to have some direction, and someone to inspire and motivate me.”

Now she motivates others through her writing. It seems we’ve come full circle!

The post Ilana Griffo’s Writing Will Keep You Motivated appeared first on MyTrendTales.

An award-winning freelance art director, designer, and illustrator, his clients include giants like Porsche, Target, Tesla, New York Magazine, and HarperCollins. Recent projects include branding a bioengineering research lab, designing packaging for Serenbe Foods, and illustrating a unique map of the city of New Orleans for AIGA’s 2015 Conference.

A New York Times best-selling book illustrator and designer, Shaw’s work has received PRINT Magazine’s “Best In Class” designation for hand-lettering, as well as PRINT’s Regional Design Awards, HOW Design’s Marketing and Promotion Awards, and recognition in AIGA, The Dieline, and the Social Good Design Awards.

Describing himself as a maker and a builder, Shaw aims to create brand identity systems through individualized attention and personal relationships that help clients create value in their communities and customers’ lives. According to Shaw, design work should be strong, unique, and ownable so that the personality of the brand is specific to the visual identity to fuel recognition.

At the same time, good design should also be simple enough to be a vessel of that message that others can fill in overtime. But more importantly: design should have a level of empathy—a way to convey the emotional traits of the brand’s personality, and to connect in a way that matters and sticks with the audience on a more personal level.

“Good design cannot fix bad content,” stresses Shaw. “Even if the design of a logo is excellent, if the company proves to be of poor quality or terrible service, over time, we will come to observe the brand’s mark as being representative of something negative.”

Aspiring designers should take note!

The post Russell Shaw’s Design Philosophy Includes a Healthy Dose of Empathy appeared first on MyTrendTales.

“I’m constantly inspired by the world around me,” admits Lee in an interview with Flaunt. “I never know when I’ll be inspired. It could be of a sculpture made of spider webs then maybe I could be enamored by the trash I see floating down the drain. I’ve also noticed that inspiration is a perspective. I could see something one day and feel nothing at all then see it again in a different light and it would be everything to me.”

Her inspirations resulted in a plethora of personas, with much experimentation. “I’ve been through a few identity shifts in the last 6 years of my internet kingdom before becoming Princess Gollum,” she explained. “Princess Gollum is someone you don’t want to mess with. She’s still sweet and kind but she’s tougher than ever now, she knows what’s going on and she must be respected and protected at all costs.”

Join her growing fanbase on Instagram.

The post Princess Gollum Will Inspire You to Experiment With Your Identity appeared first on MyTrendTales.

“With 65k followers on Instagram and solo exhibitions around the world, their specific papercut and backlit style has made quite a splash. “We would say that we are storytellers and we are using this medium to transport the viewer into our world,” they explained, poetically, in an interview with ACTFAQs. “We have worked and developed this style which is very unique,” they note. “We are still pushing ourselves within this art form to tell these stories in a better way.”

According to the duo, stories have so many shades and depth in them, and paper as a medium has the exact qualities to reflect and interpret them. “We start with a story,” they explain the creative process that takes place behind the scenes.”Our art is a collaborative process, so it might be something we come across during our travel or something we imagine. We then sketch it out and hand-cut these intricate layers. The next phase is putting the layers together, depending on how it interacts with light, making some last-minute tweaks. This is the most crucial part of our work.”

The whole process takes between 8 to 10 days depending on the size and the intricacy of what they are creating. “The idea of using paper as a sculpting medium and forming 3D dioramas is something that is really new,” Hari & Deepti note, “but there is a fresh wave of artists trying out paper art. We hope to have more artists exploring this medium.”

Follow their Instagram page for more.

The post Hari & Deepti Turn Paper and Light Into Magical Landscapes appeared first on MyTrendTales.

But he is most known for his sculptures. Made of stainless steel, glass, and LED lights, they present an ethereal reality that gestures towards the theatricality of minimalism and formalism. “My work is my best attempt at giving the impossible, the infinite, a physical, objective existence,” he explained once in an interview with Aesthetica Magazine. “The materials are merely an extension of the gesture.”

There is a minimalistic simplicity to his work, and yet it expresses something infinite (a “pluralistic paradox”, according to James). “I’ve tried to visually demonstrate the colossally vast and the infinitesimally small,” he says, “the cosmos and the divinity inside oneself.”

According to James, his intention is to express science, spirituality, and philosophy in an object the purest and most honest way he knows how. His work – exhibited internationally in galleries, museums, and art fairs – can also be experienced through his Instagram page, though best perceived live.

The post Anthony James’ Art Captures the Beauty of the Infinite appeared first on MyTrendTales.

But when it comes to the creative process itself, Milan surprisingly describes it as “basic”. “The hardest part of my job is finding a good quote or a word,” he relayed in an interview with Wix. “I could spend hours looking for a good one.” Once he has a text, he starts making sketches in different styles. After choosing the best one, he then proceeds to trace it with a marker, brush or digitally on a tablet. Finally, he puts the lettering on a photo or image, adding some finishing touches.

“I usually work with tablets like Wacom and iPad Pro with the Apple pencil,” he says, describing his toolbox, “but I also love working with Crayola markers and Tombow brush pens. They’re such great tools for every lettering artist. As for the digital process, I usually work with Photoshop for different cool effects.”

His different approach to both typography and design has attracted brands as big as Apple, Huawei, Facebook, Pepsi, and Adobe, all of which have commissioned work from him. You’d want to see what the hype is all about:

The post This Typography Artist Experiments with Colors, Textures, and Shapes appeared first on MyTrendTales.

Amongst her more unique creation are botanical hoops featuring plants and flowers. Printed on textile and framed in a wooden hoop these watercolor illustrations promise to bring a soft and natural touch to your home. “We at Olislagers have a passion for art and are inspired by nature,” reads her website. “Plants bring a room to life in a way that nothing else can. But let’s be honest, these living creatures need space, light, water and lots of love. With this new collection, we offer everyone the possibility to create an urban jungle however big or small.”

With most of her illustrations centered around the natural world, Olislagers is clearly drawn to the outdoors. Nature also provides her with endless inspiration. “With the coming and going of seasons, there is always something to discover,” she writes. “Whether it’s small like a flower in bloom or big as the ever-changing lights and colors in the sky, all you have to do is take a step back, really look around you and find that there is beauty everywhere.”

You can also follow her Instagram page, for more or less the same effect:

The post Birgitt Olislagers Captures the Fleeting Beauty In Nature appeared first on MyTrendTales.

But as her brand grew, so has her desire shifted towards teaching others her skills, and passing her knowledge onwards. Defining herself as a teacher and a blogger, Bugbee now teaches calligraphy and watercolor painting and shares her tips and tricks on her blog. Noteworthy blogposts include 10 ‘Stuck at Home’ Project Suggestions and The Beginner’s Guide to Modern Calligraphy.

“The best advice I can give about learning calligraphy is you have to enjoy your practice,” she writes. “Yes, use structured resources like an online course or a worksheet, but also let yourself have fun. As you start to get the hang of how to use a dip pen, take on engaging projects.” According to Bugbee, as long as your practice is enjoyable, you’ll continue to hone your skills.

Her blog is a great tool for aspiring calligraphers, but you can also enjoy Bugbee’s work without dipping your pen via Instagram:

The post Now is a Great Time to Improve Your Handwriting appeared first on MyTrendTales.

Born in Canada and based in Portugal, her patterns can be found around the globe, on products from decor to paper to fabric to bedding for clients like Cloud9 Fabrics, Crate + Kids, Tokyu Hands Japan, Mixbook and many more.

Her highly considered patterns and illustrations are lovingly assembled, piece by piece, creating an altogether unique compilation of colors and shapes. According to Olwen, a strong collection of patterns is one that has the perfect balance of cohesion and contrast, “a bunch of motifs, shapes or qualities that come together perfectly, and then something quite different to break it up,” she notes. “And a really beautiful color palette.”

Her uplifting designs are greatly inspired by the world around her—from the beautiful forests of Ontario, to the pastel colors and tiles of Lisbon, to her cherished and plentiful travels abroad, and her own journey of self-exploration toward wholeheartedness. “Nature is at the top of the list,” she stresses. “I love flowers and leaves and trees and it never ceases to amaze me how each one is so unique. I find that idea so inspiring.”

Take a look at some of her patterns in the gallery below:

The post This Pattern Designer Makes the World a Prettier Place appeared first on MyTrendTales.

“I’m not that serious of a person, and neither is Working Girls,” explained Maynard in an interview with the Urban Outfitters blog. “I hope that people who follow along and buy our products find some entertainment with our merch. I don’t take myself too seriously and am proud that that is translated through Working Girls.”

Based in Cincinnati, Maynard’s brand began as a line of pool floats shaped like different body parts.“My focus now is mainly design and installation, but I love teaching myself new skills, so who knows what the next thing will be,” says Maynard. In the meanwhile, you can head over to her online store where you can find a mixture of apparel, accessories, and other oddities.

The post This Brand Doesn’t Want You to Take it Seriously appeared first on MyTrendTales.

If lettering is all about that personal touch, Griffo’s got it in spades. Her posts are playful and inspiring without being too preachy. But she admits it took her much practice to get to where she is. “As a graphic designer, typography has been a passion of mine as long as I can remember,” she admitted. “I used to write, and rewrite my class notes until they were as close to perfect as possible. I learned so much about the art of type as a design student, and I interned at a letterpress studio to learn more about the origin of type. I wanted to learn more about hand lettering because I knew it would bring a unique and personalized touch to the work I was doing with my design clients.”

Her curiosity about hand lettering would blossom into a full-time job a while later. “I took the class as a creative outlet,” she says. “While it related directly to the work I do daily, it was a step away from the computer, a new challenge. I was excited to have some direction, and someone to inspire and motivate me.”

Now she motivates others through her writing. It seems we’ve come full circle!

The post Ilana Griffo’s Writing Will Keep You Motivated appeared first on MyTrendTales.