Question 1

What story does this bottle tell about your city/region?

Accepted Answer

It elicits a feeling of friendliness, of humble roots. I feel like the Midwesterners are great at enjoying the little things, especially when it’s summertime. It also shows the range that the Midwest has; the Midwest is not all cornfields and cows (but they’re definitely a big part).

Question 2

What detail should people stop and look at twice?

Accepted Answer

The moments on the bottle where people (and animals) are interacting with a baseball are my favorite. To me it symbolizes connectedness and how joy can be contagious.

Question 3

What part of this design feels the most “you”?

Accepted Answer

I can’t count how many times I’ve illustrated the Chicago “L” for projects, and I always like to show the conductor interacting in some way. It was fun coming up with the idea of the conductor catching a baseball in this version.

Question 4

What inspired this piece that people might not expect?

Accepted Answer

I took a lot of memories from my childhood as inspiration for this piece. Growing up in the Midwest, summer can feel especially sacred after going through a harsh winter and people really savor the season. Lots of beach visits, visits to farms and small towns, and rollercoaster rides came to mind when I thought back on my summer memories!

Question 5

If this design had a soundtrack, what would it sound like? OR if this design was a song, which song would it be?

Accepted Answer

Maybe the song “Small Town” by John Mellencamp. It’s quintessential heartland rock with nods to blue collar workers. It’s very nostalgic to a lot of Midwesterners.

Question 6

What’s one habit or ritual that helps you get into a creative headspace?

Accepted Answer

Working on mundane daily tasks is the secret weapon to creativity. They take the pressure off when working on a project because they don’t require much brain space which allows me to be just distracted enough by them, but the freedom to think of ideas for the project.

Question 7

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?

Accepted Answer

Anyone that meets me at this stage in my life might be surprised to find out that I’m from a small town in Wisconsin, and I’m the only one from my family who really left the area. I have lived in Chicago for 13 years now and am such a city person!

Question 8

What did you want to stay true to with this design?

Accepted Answer

It was important for me to keep the style and aesthetic relatable and approachable just like the people that make up the region.

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