Designer of the Week Mary Kate McDevitt, who states in a recent film (see it down below) that she has bridged the gap between graphic design and illustration, specializes in illustrated letters. Take a look at her stunning work below, including some animated illustrations. We bet you’ll want to look twice.
Name: Mary Kate McDevitt
Name of Shop: I have an online shop called Winter Cabin that I work on with my boyfriend, Man Vs Ink.
Location: Philadelphia
Design School Attended: Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, and I graduated with a degree in Graphic and Interactive Design in 2007.
How would you describe your work? Illustrative lettering.
Where do you find inspiration?I have always been interested in vintage ephemera, so I like to collect old [packaging] that has some interesting type on it or old signs [with] painted letters—anything that has some wear and tear, a little charm, something weird.
Do you have a favorite among all the projects you’ve worked on?My favorite project is usually the latest project I worked on. I did the cover of Mental Floss recently that I’m pretty psyched on.
What do you hope to accomplish in the future?I would love to collaborate with Fish’s Eddy. Their artist collections are always so on point. But in general, I’m picturing more of a mix of lettering and illustration. I’m doing The 100 Day Project right now that I’m calling 100 Days of People and Pets, where I illustrate people and pets that are doing fun stuff together. I used to do a lot more illustration in college. I always included lettering in my illustrations [and] that gradually went more into lettering.
What’s your best advice for designers today?Be confident in your work. We all doubt our work [from] time to time, but when you are doing your best work, trying new things and doing the work that you want to do, whether it’s a failure or a success, you will feel confident to keep moving forward and making better work.
Bridging the Gap Between Graphic Design & Illustration
Mary Kate McDevitt talks about how she bridged the gap between graphic design and illustration. Video directed & edited by Mario De Armas.
7 Stunning Illustrative Lettering Projects by Mary Kate McDevitt
Client: The Creative Influence; Filmed/Directed/Edited: Mario DeArmas
Client: Puffin Classics; Art Director: Becky Morrison
Client: Mental Floss; Art Director: Lucy Quintanilla
Client: Sesame Street; Art Director: Vanessa Germosen
Client: Hand-Eye Supply; Art Director: Tobias Berblinger
Client: Teaching Tolerance; Art Director: Michelle Leland
Client: Smart Ones; Agency: MKG; Art Directors: Jessica Latorre & Melissa Grein
4 Animated Illustrations by Mary Kate McDevitt
Client: Publix; Agency: 22squared; Art Director: Emily Cabral
Client: Publix; Agency: 22squared; Art Director: Emily Cabral
Client: Publix; Agency: 22squared; Art Director: Emily Cabral
Client: Publix; Agency: 22squared; Art Director: Emily Cabral
If you’re interested in being considered for Designer of the Week, please email a headshot, 5–10 images of your work (around 628px max width if possible) and answers to the below questions to info@printmag.com with the subject line: Designer of the Week.
Name: Name of Firm/Studio, if applicable: Location: Website: How would you describe your work? Design school attended, if applicable: Where do you find inspiration? Who are some of your favorite designers or artists? Do you have a favorite among all the projects you’ve worked on? (Please provide an image of this project if possible.) Is there a project that stands out to you as having been the biggest challenge of your career so far? (Please provide an image of this project if possible.) What do you hope to accomplish in the future? What’s your best advice for designers today?
Have you designed a wearable? Whether it’s a T-shirt you designed and sell in your shop, a button you created as part of a client’s brand campaign, or a health and fitness tracking device you designed for a company, your eye-catching, innovative designs belong in Print’s Wearable Design Awards.
Final Deadline: August 7, 2015