Illustrator

Want an honest, forthcoming account of what it’s like to navigate your way through a career path? Ask Jeff. He wasn’t hesitant to divulge his story and it’s a good thing because he has the wisdom of a guy who’s lived a couple lives, and it’s all here. We hope that if you’re not currently doing what you love, you will let this be a challenge to do something about it! Thank you, Jeff, for sharing about your path into design and illustration, talking honestly about self-doubt, and reiterating the importance of feedback and community. —Tina

After getting the chance to talk with Scott, it’s pretty clear that he has no qualms about working hard, but he also knows how to have fun doing it. With humor and candidness, Scott told us stories about the moments that led him to discover design, starting a business, and moving to Denver on a whim. And on a more serious note, Scott shared what he’s learned since starting Foundry, why it’s important to kick your ego to the curb, and his hope that designers can make a meaningful impact while avoiding the pitfall of self-importance. Thanks, Scott—the pleasure was all ours. —Tina

Malika’s personality is just as lively and colorful as her work—and on top of that, who could resist a French accent? Not us. After our conversation with Malika, we’re even more convinced that she has as much fun creating her work as we do viewing it. With a pop of color, clean, fluid lines, and an alluring edginess, her work has a certain je ne sais quoi. Read on about Malika’s childhood love of drawing, her illustration “Aha!” moment after a brief stint of wanting to be an engineer, how she prepared to make the move to freelancing full-time, why she adores life in London. —Tina

Our conversation with Lotta was full of laughter and inspiring stories about her whimsical journey from Finland to the heart of New York. Lotta shared about her accidental discovery of graphic design and illustration, making an international move, taking risks, and finding community in the greatest city on earth. She also offered up some stellar advice for young creatives and reminded us that it’s good to like the work you do, but it’s more important to love your life. —Tina

Dan has a way with words and a style all his own. Over the summer, he and girlfriend, Niamh, set out on a road trip in their kick-ass Scout and gave us a serious case of wanderlust. Dan’s been home for a few months and shared with us about his transition back into full-time freelancing, his most memorable experience on the road, why the power of typography shouldn’t be underestimated, and his thoughts on being discontent. —Tina

Kyle first came across our radar when we saw his 52 Profiles project. We loved his quirky style and the care he put into each image. So, when we needed a sketch last-minute for our TGD Steve Jobs tribute, we contacted him. It was a shot in the dark, but Kyle said yes. He also agreed to interview with us for TGD. We had the joy of chatting with the Steed about his journey thus far including how he got into illustration, his time in Japan, and his upcoming venture into full-time freelance work. —Tina