Pantone’s colour of the year for 2026 was white, something poorly received by the public. Aesthetic trends have been moving steadily toward minimalism for the past decade, all in spite of a consumer base clearly desiring something more esoteric and unique. Many are experiencing nostalgia for the maximalist appearance of the early internet, yet Silicon Valley continues to simplify their logo designs each year. There seems to be an assumption that consumers desire the appearance of wealth projected by minimalism, but what many actually want is authentic and vibrant design. As an illustrator and designer who embraces eccentric aesthetics, my heart is sorely broken by the drift towards emptiness where intrigue could be. My visual language is heavily informed by the music and fashion trends of the late sixties/early seventies, although I find I tend to drift towards whatever interests me at the present. For example, I have had a fascination with vintage botanical illustrations and antique spirit photography as of late. Research is an integral part of my practice, and I like to pull a subject apart and learn as much about it as possible during my projects. Understanding how a piece of visual communication ticks is essential to me. My passion for visual design interacts with my hobbies frequently, and I think at heart I am fascinated with the human desire to create beauty. In my personal life, this translates to a love of music and history. I could name-drop a bunch of bands, but to save your time I’ll just tell you I’m big on Talking Heads and Frank Zappa right now. As an avid charity shopper, I have a good eye for antiques and valuable jewellery. It’s fair to say I am attracted to anything beautifully peculiar. My goal as a designer is to make the world more alive. We are worthy of beauty with soul.…Pantone’s colour of the year for 2026 was white, something poorly received by the public. Aesthetic trends have been moving steadily toward minimalism for the past decade, all in spite of a consumer base clearly desiring something more esoteric and unique. Many are experiencing nostalgia for the maximalist appearance of the early internet, yet Silicon Valley continues to simplify their logo designs each year. There seems to be an assumption that consumers desire the appearance of wealth projected by minimalism, but what many actually want is authentic and vibrant design. As an illustrator and designer who embraces eccentric aesthetics, my heart is sorely broken by the drift towards emptiness where intrigue could be. My visual language is heavily informed by the music and fashion trends of the late sixties/early seventies, although I find I tend to drift towards whatever interests me at the present. For example, I have had a fascination with vintage botanical illustrations and antique spirit photography as of late. Research is an integral part of my practice, and I like to pull a subject apart and learn as much about it as possible during my projects. Understanding how a piece of visual communication ticks is essential to me. My passion for visual design interacts with my hobbies frequently, and I think at heart I am fascinated with the human desire to create beauty. In my personal life, this translates to a love of music and history. I could name-drop a bunch of bands, but to save your time I’ll just tell you I’m big on Talking Heads and Frank Zappa right now. As an avid charity shopper, I have a good eye for antiques and valuable jewellery. It’s fair to say I am attracted to anything beautifully peculiar. My goal as a designer is to make the world more alive. We are worthy of beauty with soul.WWWW…