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Meet Print’s latest Designer of the Week, Amanda Wright, whose handmade greeting cards and paper goods caught our eye and whose wit still has us charmed.
Name: Amanda WrightName of Studio: Wit & WhistleLocation: Cary, North CarolinaDesign school attended: NC State College of Design
A book of snarky last-minute greeting cards
How would you describe your work?I design and illustrate witty greeting cards and whistle-worthy paper goods. My work is simple, organic, and pretty, with a touch of unexpected crassness. My goal for Wit & Whistle has always been to create a line of products that are both funny and beautiful, so I leave plenty of room for frivolity in my work.Where do you find inspiration?I’m inspired by my love of drawing and my desire to indulge in light-hearted creativity. I find inspiration in patterns found in nature and textiles, natural sciences, and pretty much anything that appeals to my weird (and somewhat macabre) sense of humor.Who are some of your favorite designers or artists?I’m currently crushing on Dan Cassaro’s mad typography skills, Molly Jacques’ flawless calligraphy & lettering, and Anna Bond’s whimsical gouache paintings.
Do you have a favorite among all the projects you’ve worked on?It’s hard to choose a favorite, because somehow I’ve managed to carve out this sweet little niche in the design world where I get to create whatever pops into my head. If I had to choose, my greeting cards that make me laugh the hardest are my favorites—my “wiener” card, “bare hug” card and “uterus” card to name a few.Is there a project that stands out to you as having been the biggest challenge of your career so far? Last year I filled a large order of Wit & Whistle notebooks and jotters for American Eagle Outfitters. I illustrated and manufactured several exclusive designs for their stores, and all the logistics of working with such an enormous nationwide retailer were challenging for me as a one-woman operation. It was an amazing experience, and I learned so much.What do you hope to accomplish in the future?In the future, I hope to keep doing exactly what I’m doing now only better. It’s incredibly motivating to look back at my earlier work and see how my style has matured and taken shape over the years. I can’t wait to see how it continues to evolve as I keep practicing and improving.What’s your best advice for designers today?Find a way to have fun with your work and loosen up. Creating is so much more enjoyable if you don’t take yourself too seriously.
At Print, we see in-house, freelancers and studios creating so many brilliant wearables—from T-shirts to buttons to tote bags—that we knew we needed a competition just for them.
So, we’re excited to announce Print’s Wearable Design Awards, and we invite you to share with us your most most eye-catching, innovative work—whether it was done for yourself, for self-promotional purposes, or for a client.
Final Deadline: 7/2