Series 5, Post 2: How I Design Stationery, Why I Design Stationery

By Kristin Bivens

Several weeks back, when Sara proposed this series, I was concerned I'd have nothing to say on my own design method.

Because, quite honestly, I don't really think I have a design method.

Sara asked, "Don't you have some sort of standard or aesthetic you strive for?"

But I couldn't think of any.

Since we've started SHPP, I typically just sit down at my Macbook and stare at the screen, play around with tools until inspiration strikes. I may have a certain feeling I'd like to try for in the design, but the idea usually just hits me like a ton of bricks. I put out a lot of crap in the meantime, simply because I don't have much direction. There are moments when one design is my limit for the day and there are other moments when I can't stop. Among all of those designs, there is typically a "diamond" that makes me feel accomplished, as if maybe I'm a real artist or something like that.

Here's one of my first designs from the Shiny Happy People Collection, and it is still one of my favorites. I had absolutely no idea how my program even worked when I started designing this. And chances are, I could never recreate that background if I tried. But maybe that is a good thing?

I do tend to have a "style" in my designs, but I represent my own personal tastes in my art work. I tend to not think of others. For me, designing and creating is an expression of myself, more of a personal need to create and put myself on the page. It is my contribution to the world. My designs probably have more of a niche market because of my personal taste, but I just can't design something I don't like. Let someone else design that.

In my creativity and design, I tend to end up with kitschy, "undesigned" designs. Meaning that I like my stuff to be slightly "off." For example, my drawn "color your own" postcards. I'm not a great drawer, but that is what makes these postcards fun!

My favorite designs so far, have been my writing stationery designs. I've always been a huge fan of paper, just regular old paper, since I was a child. I've been having fun creating my own paper designs and even printing them off in my own office. Here's a few stationery designs that I've been working on.

Throughout the process, I feel as though my paper stationery designs are my best work, the most fun work for me. Not only that, but I'm figuring out more about how the program I use works, which is allowing me to get funkier with my designs. Hope you like what you see when you see a design by me! I'll keep them coming. I just can't promise what they're going to look like. But you'll see me somewhere on the page.