View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dan Christofferson (@beeteeth)

Most recently, we’ve taken notice of the clever use in which illustrator and designer Dan Christofferson utilizes visual symbolism to convey his messages. According to Christofferson, he draws his inspiration from religious symbolism and the way in which a visual language can add another layer of meaning to a story. Such iconography is concerned with humanity’s relationship to the sacred or holy.

“My interest in the use and creation of symbols definitely started off as a way to tell religious stories,” Christofferson told Juxtapoz. “They’re a great way to explore something abstract or unknown while giving the viewer space for their own interpretation.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dan Christofferson (@beeteeth)

But Christofferson’s concerned with humanity’s relationship to the sacred or holyinterest in symbolism also has a more personal layer. “My ancestors come from an exiled religious group that settled in the Salt Lake Valley,” he relayed.

“These early Mormons used a mix of old biblical symbols, icons from freemasonry, and a sprinkling of their own arcane iconography to exchange sacred ideas within their community. It allowed them to talk openly about their beliefs, even proselytize to strangers, while keeping them personal, private, and bestowing the reverence they felt they deserved.”

While religious symbols are meant for wide consumption, Christofferson’s designs are aimed at a smaller audience, creating a bridge between designer and follower. Take a look at some of his more recent work in the gallery below, and follow his work on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dan Christofferson (@beeteeth)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dan Christofferson (@beeteeth)

The post Dan Christofferson Understands the Power of Visual Symbolism appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“I get inspiration from everywhere and anything that surrounds me,” shared Almond in an interview with Nine By Nine, “be that my dinner, the contents of my shelves or a conversation I have had that day. Of course other amazing designers and illustrators inspire me! Being surrounded and seeing so much amazing work on Instagram pushes me to keep trying to improve my practice.”

Based in Leeds, Almond also launched her own Etsy store where you can find greeting cards and personalized name bracelets that are the very essence of nostalgia.

“I have always loved drawing from an early age and always knew I wanted to study art,” admits Almond. “Whilst on my Art and design foundation I came across the printed textiles and surface pattern design course at Leeds Arts University and instantly knew it was for me! Although I wasn’t hugely into textiles I loved being able to apply my illustrations to such a range of surfaces and materials.”

Focus on the positive.

The post Focus On the Positive with Poppy Almond appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Inspired by Jungian therapy and creative exercises, Rainaud launched the Maalavidaa project as a way of self-expression. Having graduated in June 2018 with a Master’s Degree in Graphic Design, she now works as an independent director.

“I started studying graphic design more than seven years ago and finally graduated this past June by working on my thesis where I tried to link books to psyche,” she shared in an interview with Murze. “In the meantime, I started to work as a digital artist more than two years ago, in 2016. Creating Malavida was a way for me to express myself through different media and daily creative work but in a more abstract level.”

According to the promising digital artist, her work is influenced by publishing design, hybrid books, new technologies, psychology, digital art, visual effects, and experiments. Her color experiment seems to have worked out for the best! Take a look for yourself.

The post Follow Alycia Rainaud for a Splash of Color appeared first on MobiSpirit.

But his map series began fairly traditionally. “The whole series started with the Portland map,” he explained once in an interview with the Ohh Deer blog. “Portland is a pretty geniusly designed city with very simple radial divisions. There were a few unclear things in my mind, so I made a map to help me explain the city as a whole. Just a few lines and some circles.”

According to the designer, his maps’ minimalist aesthetic draws from his experience as a letterpress printer, relying upon type and lines. “I actually have no formal graphic design training which shows when I try to do things like make a catalog or design a webpage,” he notes, incredibly. “I would never get hired as a designer. Everything I learned is from type-setting in letterpress printing, which is a totally antiquated (went out of style in the 1950’s), and in hindsight, was probably a waste of time.”

With a cult following online, Archambault’s maps prove that even when there’s no place to travel to, we can always rely on our creative spirit and imagination.

The post These Original Maps Will Help You Make Sense of the World appeared first on MobiSpirit.

But washing can also be a chance to pamper yourself; God knows we could use some TLC. Enter Whitechapel Soap. Based in Los Angeles, California, the handcrafted soap brand is run by Jared Simons. Describing himself as a humble soapmaker, Simons had a successful career as a cook and chef for over 20 years, before transitioning into soap making.

According to Simons, both cooking and soap making rely on science. “If you don’t understand what’s happening when you’re cooking, it’s never going to make sense,” he explained in an interview with Matter of Hand. “With that, the cooking translates to the soapmaking. I wasn’t that interested in chemistry, I just needed to understand what was going on so I spent a lot of time just looking on the internet.”

The years of experience sourcing ingredients in the kitchen also came in handy, as Simons now looks for the finest natural and sustainable oils. His ingredients olive oil, coconut oil, and shea butter, as well as water and sodium hydroxide.

Naturally, his soap bars also make the ideal gift. “I actually finish each bar with a boot brush to kind of knock off the rough edge and give it a tumbled look,” says Simons. “So each bar has a little character.”

Take a look at his collection in the gallery below.

The post We’ve Got Your High-End Soap Right Here! appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Run by illustrator Tess Shearer, it was launched in 2012, after Shearer worked some years as a freelance fashion and jewelry designer. “All of my life, I have been extremely imaginative and always sought ways to channel this into something creative,” she writes on her website.

Her imaginative spirit would find a home in House Of Wonderland. “My mission ties in with the business name,” she explained the name of her brand, noting that she wanted to become the home of wonderful things. “I want people to have something in their lives that they can look at and remember that they are awesome and they have people that love them,” she went on to say.

Her designs do just that, with her illustrations featuring uplifting quotes and positive messages that make for an overall delightful experience. “I consider my entire business and a huge achievement!” exclaimed Shearer. “I still find it hard to believe I’ve been able to get where I am today, doing the things I love.” It’s a brand you’d want to support yourself.

The post This Brand is Home to All Things Wonderful appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“I think about people who like natural materials, like paper or wood,” Fiter explained in an interview with the Etsy blog. “That’s the kind of person I am; I like these materials in my home, too. I also think about making things that are quite simple in design.”

But creating something simple isn’t as simple as it seems. “First I think about what I could make and I start doing some sketches,” says Fiter, describing the process that goes behind the scenes. “Once I know the shape I want, I think about which mold would serve me best. I use different kinds of molds: Some are balloons, some are cardboard, some are made with funnels, and one lamp, the Metamorfozis, is made from a Coke bottle mold.”

According to Fiter, she was always drawn to manual work, enjoying activities like painting, sewing, and making furniture. Her love of lamps came later, during her Erasmus internship, while working with wood. “It’s great when you can reuse things that already exist and give them a second life,” she notes.

The post Maria Fiter’s Lamps Aren’t for the Faint of Heart appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Born in Brazil and currently based in Savannah, Georgia, Lee Parker’s introduction to furniture design was through her work as an interior designer. “Interior designers love and appreciate furniture, so the appreciation was always there,” she explained in an interview with Matter of Hand. “But when I was working in residential interior design, we used to have to pick out furniture a lot and I always wished that aspects of the pieces were different in this or that way.”

Still, it took time for Lee Parker to muster the courage needed to turn her attention to furniture making. “I never had confidence that I could actually design things until I came back to Savannah and enrolled in a master’s program for furniture,” she notes.

Her objects are made of organic materials, that make for an earthy, grounded, effect. Those include wood and metals, as well as ceramics, another, separate, passion of Lee Parker. Each piece is sketched out beforehand, providing blueprints for her collection. “I have to know generally what height or width I need,” she says. “It’s so much easier for me to have everything drawn; it’s kind of like having blueprints. You kind of have to. It’s a little different than being in sculpture.”

See some of her unique creations in the gallery below and share with us your favorites.

The post Eny Lee Parker Will Make You Fall in Love With Furniture appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“I want my pieces to create moments where people look back at their intentions and how they want to operate in the world, what they wish to see or have or be or connect with,” she once remarked in an interview with Matter of Hand. “Just bringing them back into the present and connecting them to the beauty of the world; that’s a moment where everyone feels really good. It’s like touching ground before you go off into the craziness.”

Part of her ceramic objects’ appeal is that they’re all handmade, either hand-built or thrown on the wheel, after which they are hand-painted, adding a personal touch to them. Other than ceramics, Quan also works with other organic materials that include hand-dyed cotton, hemp rope, and reclaimed wood.

“When making things I have to see it in my head first,” she explains, talking about the creative process that goes behind the scenes. “I have to be able to see the process linearly,” stresses Quan. “Once I figure out how to make something the first time I’ll make a template so that I don’t have to re-think it every time. If you have to think too hard it’s more exhausting.”

Take a look at some of her original designs in the gallery below.

The post Michele Quan Makes Unique Ceramic Objetcs appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Designer Amber Share was surprised to discover that some people actually left snarky and negative reviews online after visiting some of America’s most beloved National Parks. That’s when she came up with the idea to create hilarious travel posters for all 61 National parks, and each poster features some of these cynical comments that she found on the Internet.

“I wanted to draw all 61 parks, but wanted to add a twist to the project that would incorporate hand lettering. I found one star reviews of every park, and every Wednesday I post a new one,” says Shares, adding that she only wants to “put a positive, fun spin on such a negative mindset.”

Her retro-style posters feature some of America’s most beautiful mountains, lakes, and forests matched with funny comments such as “There are bugs and they will bite you on your face,” or “Trees block view and there are too many gray rocks.”

The post Artist Creates Posters For National Parks Based on Their Worst Reviews appeared first on MobiSpirit.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dan Christofferson (@beeteeth)

Most recently, we’ve taken notice of the clever use in which illustrator and designer Dan Christofferson utilizes visual symbolism to convey his messages. According to Christofferson, he draws his inspiration from religious symbolism and the way in which a visual language can add another layer of meaning to a story. Such iconography is concerned with humanity’s relationship to the sacred or holy.

“My interest in the use and creation of symbols definitely started off as a way to tell religious stories,” Christofferson told Juxtapoz. “They’re a great way to explore something abstract or unknown while giving the viewer space for their own interpretation.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dan Christofferson (@beeteeth)

But Christofferson’s concerned with humanity’s relationship to the sacred or holyinterest in symbolism also has a more personal layer. “My ancestors come from an exiled religious group that settled in the Salt Lake Valley,” he relayed.

“These early Mormons used a mix of old biblical symbols, icons from freemasonry, and a sprinkling of their own arcane iconography to exchange sacred ideas within their community. It allowed them to talk openly about their beliefs, even proselytize to strangers, while keeping them personal, private, and bestowing the reverence they felt they deserved.”

While religious symbols are meant for wide consumption, Christofferson’s designs are aimed at a smaller audience, creating a bridge between designer and follower. Take a look at some of his more recent work in the gallery below, and follow his work on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dan Christofferson (@beeteeth)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dan Christofferson (@beeteeth)

The post Dan Christofferson Understands the Power of Visual Symbolism appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“I get inspiration from everywhere and anything that surrounds me,” shared Almond in an interview with Nine By Nine, “be that my dinner, the contents of my shelves or a conversation I have had that day. Of course other amazing designers and illustrators inspire me! Being surrounded and seeing so much amazing work on Instagram pushes me to keep trying to improve my practice.”

Based in Leeds, Almond also launched her own Etsy store where you can find greeting cards and personalized name bracelets that are the very essence of nostalgia.

“I have always loved drawing from an early age and always knew I wanted to study art,” admits Almond. “Whilst on my Art and design foundation I came across the printed textiles and surface pattern design course at Leeds Arts University and instantly knew it was for me! Although I wasn’t hugely into textiles I loved being able to apply my illustrations to such a range of surfaces and materials.”

Focus on the positive.

The post Focus On the Positive with Poppy Almond appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Inspired by Jungian therapy and creative exercises, Rainaud launched the Maalavidaa project as a way of self-expression. Having graduated in June 2018 with a Master’s Degree in Graphic Design, she now works as an independent director.

“I started studying graphic design more than seven years ago and finally graduated this past June by working on my thesis where I tried to link books to psyche,” she shared in an interview with Murze. “In the meantime, I started to work as a digital artist more than two years ago, in 2016. Creating Malavida was a way for me to express myself through different media and daily creative work but in a more abstract level.”

According to the promising digital artist, her work is influenced by publishing design, hybrid books, new technologies, psychology, digital art, visual effects, and experiments. Her color experiment seems to have worked out for the best! Take a look for yourself.

The post Follow Alycia Rainaud for a Splash of Color appeared first on MobiSpirit.

But his map series began fairly traditionally. “The whole series started with the Portland map,” he explained once in an interview with the Ohh Deer blog. “Portland is a pretty geniusly designed city with very simple radial divisions. There were a few unclear things in my mind, so I made a map to help me explain the city as a whole. Just a few lines and some circles.”

According to the designer, his maps’ minimalist aesthetic draws from his experience as a letterpress printer, relying upon type and lines. “I actually have no formal graphic design training which shows when I try to do things like make a catalog or design a webpage,” he notes, incredibly. “I would never get hired as a designer. Everything I learned is from type-setting in letterpress printing, which is a totally antiquated (went out of style in the 1950’s), and in hindsight, was probably a waste of time.”

With a cult following online, Archambault’s maps prove that even when there’s no place to travel to, we can always rely on our creative spirit and imagination.

The post These Original Maps Will Help You Make Sense of the World appeared first on MobiSpirit.

But washing can also be a chance to pamper yourself; God knows we could use some TLC. Enter Whitechapel Soap. Based in Los Angeles, California, the handcrafted soap brand is run by Jared Simons. Describing himself as a humble soapmaker, Simons had a successful career as a cook and chef for over 20 years, before transitioning into soap making.

According to Simons, both cooking and soap making rely on science. “If you don’t understand what’s happening when you’re cooking, it’s never going to make sense,” he explained in an interview with Matter of Hand. “With that, the cooking translates to the soapmaking. I wasn’t that interested in chemistry, I just needed to understand what was going on so I spent a lot of time just looking on the internet.”

The years of experience sourcing ingredients in the kitchen also came in handy, as Simons now looks for the finest natural and sustainable oils. His ingredients olive oil, coconut oil, and shea butter, as well as water and sodium hydroxide.

Naturally, his soap bars also make the ideal gift. “I actually finish each bar with a boot brush to kind of knock off the rough edge and give it a tumbled look,” says Simons. “So each bar has a little character.”

Take a look at his collection in the gallery below.

The post We’ve Got Your High-End Soap Right Here! appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Run by illustrator Tess Shearer, it was launched in 2012, after Shearer worked some years as a freelance fashion and jewelry designer. “All of my life, I have been extremely imaginative and always sought ways to channel this into something creative,” she writes on her website.

Her imaginative spirit would find a home in House Of Wonderland. “My mission ties in with the business name,” she explained the name of her brand, noting that she wanted to become the home of wonderful things. “I want people to have something in their lives that they can look at and remember that they are awesome and they have people that love them,” she went on to say.

Her designs do just that, with her illustrations featuring uplifting quotes and positive messages that make for an overall delightful experience. “I consider my entire business and a huge achievement!” exclaimed Shearer. “I still find it hard to believe I’ve been able to get where I am today, doing the things I love.” It’s a brand you’d want to support yourself.

The post This Brand is Home to All Things Wonderful appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“I think about people who like natural materials, like paper or wood,” Fiter explained in an interview with the Etsy blog. “That’s the kind of person I am; I like these materials in my home, too. I also think about making things that are quite simple in design.”

But creating something simple isn’t as simple as it seems. “First I think about what I could make and I start doing some sketches,” says Fiter, describing the process that goes behind the scenes. “Once I know the shape I want, I think about which mold would serve me best. I use different kinds of molds: Some are balloons, some are cardboard, some are made with funnels, and one lamp, the Metamorfozis, is made from a Coke bottle mold.”

According to Fiter, she was always drawn to manual work, enjoying activities like painting, sewing, and making furniture. Her love of lamps came later, during her Erasmus internship, while working with wood. “It’s great when you can reuse things that already exist and give them a second life,” she notes.

The post Maria Fiter’s Lamps Aren’t for the Faint of Heart appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Born in Brazil and currently based in Savannah, Georgia, Lee Parker’s introduction to furniture design was through her work as an interior designer. “Interior designers love and appreciate furniture, so the appreciation was always there,” she explained in an interview with Matter of Hand. “But when I was working in residential interior design, we used to have to pick out furniture a lot and I always wished that aspects of the pieces were different in this or that way.”

Still, it took time for Lee Parker to muster the courage needed to turn her attention to furniture making. “I never had confidence that I could actually design things until I came back to Savannah and enrolled in a master’s program for furniture,” she notes.

Her objects are made of organic materials, that make for an earthy, grounded, effect. Those include wood and metals, as well as ceramics, another, separate, passion of Lee Parker. Each piece is sketched out beforehand, providing blueprints for her collection. “I have to know generally what height or width I need,” she says. “It’s so much easier for me to have everything drawn; it’s kind of like having blueprints. You kind of have to. It’s a little different than being in sculpture.”

See some of her unique creations in the gallery below and share with us your favorites.

The post Eny Lee Parker Will Make You Fall in Love With Furniture appeared first on MobiSpirit.

“I want my pieces to create moments where people look back at their intentions and how they want to operate in the world, what they wish to see or have or be or connect with,” she once remarked in an interview with Matter of Hand. “Just bringing them back into the present and connecting them to the beauty of the world; that’s a moment where everyone feels really good. It’s like touching ground before you go off into the craziness.”

Part of her ceramic objects’ appeal is that they’re all handmade, either hand-built or thrown on the wheel, after which they are hand-painted, adding a personal touch to them. Other than ceramics, Quan also works with other organic materials that include hand-dyed cotton, hemp rope, and reclaimed wood.

“When making things I have to see it in my head first,” she explains, talking about the creative process that goes behind the scenes. “I have to be able to see the process linearly,” stresses Quan. “Once I figure out how to make something the first time I’ll make a template so that I don’t have to re-think it every time. If you have to think too hard it’s more exhausting.”

Take a look at some of her original designs in the gallery below.

The post Michele Quan Makes Unique Ceramic Objetcs appeared first on MobiSpirit.

Designer Amber Share was surprised to discover that some people actually left snarky and negative reviews online after visiting some of America’s most beloved National Parks. That’s when she came up with the idea to create hilarious travel posters for all 61 National parks, and each poster features some of these cynical comments that she found on the Internet.

“I wanted to draw all 61 parks, but wanted to add a twist to the project that would incorporate hand lettering. I found one star reviews of every park, and every Wednesday I post a new one,” says Shares, adding that she only wants to “put a positive, fun spin on such a negative mindset.”

Her retro-style posters feature some of America’s most beautiful mountains, lakes, and forests matched with funny comments such as “There are bugs and they will bite you on your face,” or “Trees block view and there are too many gray rocks.”

The post Artist Creates Posters For National Parks Based on Their Worst Reviews appeared first on MobiSpirit.