Mélanie Johnsson is a graphic designer, illustrator and letterer from Margate, UK. In issue 31 she tells us a bit more about her work.
How did your career develop?
After graduating from art school in Paris, France, I started doing little graphic design jobs as a freelancer while traveling around the globe for nearly a year. I loved traveling, but I was itching to settle somewhere. I got a job as a junior graphic designer in London, UK. That really helped me grow and develop some of the skills I have today. While in London, I had lots of free time to explore new things: I got into lettering and refined my illustration work. I left my job after a year because I wanted to make it on my own. Going freelance is the best move I ever made.
Describe your creative process…
I love to experiment as I believe that’s how the magic happens. If I need to work on a big project and have to come up with many ideas, I make sure I have a full day ahead of me free of anything else in order to work. I also usually start working very early in the morning, as that’s when I’m the most creative. The work I do is a huge part of who I am, and I simply couldn’t do anything else. I’ll always create because I need it to feel alive and happy.
Do you have certain themes that often return to your work?
A few that always come back are oceans, animals, women, love and mental health. I love our planet and I’m in awe of anything that happens beneath the sea’s surface. Mental health is also an important theme for me. I love to post about my feelings on Instagram, through hand-lettered quotes or sentences that I share with my community. I think it’s important to remind people that you don’t have to be alone in dealing with anxiety, depression, self-doubts or fears. Talking about these issues raises awareness and hopefully makes everyone’s life a little bit easier.
- More creatives tell a bit more about their life in Issue 31.
Text Jeannette Jonker Photography Mélanie Johnsson
