Ellis Tree
Author
About
Writer at It's Nice That with a graphic design background and an interest in printmaking, self-publishing and photography.
Biography source ↗Biography checked
Articles & interviews
- William Goldsmith’s comics explore memory through layered visual narratives
London-based writer and illustrator William Goldsmith uses sequential forms including comics, zines and books to explore memory, place and storytelling. His recent Riso-printed comic The Suitcase combines memories of Athens, Glasgow and Moscow through colourful, layered imagery, while a residency in Tábor, Czechia, is informing a new book.
- Tobie Tse animates hand-stitched crochet and lace
Hong Kong-based multimedia artist Tobie Tse creates delicate animations from hand-stitched crochet, lace, illustration and digital motion. Her work draws on early animation devices and references, translating music lyrics, botanical forms, birds and mythical creatures into textile-based moving images, including a commission for Olivia Rodrigo.
- Menslies Redefines China’s Club Posters With Raw, Experimental Design
The article marks ten years of Menslies, the joint practice of Haojun Pan and Yenk, whose posters and event visuals have supported Beijing's club scene. An exhibition at WarmUp in Kyoto presents the studio's evolving archive, highlighting its digitally made but deliberately raw, analogue-feeling compositions that reject conventional grids and retain a connection to print.
- Can Can Press Guides a Weekend Through Mexico City’s Zine Scene
This Weekend With feature follows Can Can Press co-founders Jackie Crespo and Gabino Azuela through Mexico City’s independent print, publishing and zine culture. The pair discuss their Hardcore Art Book Fair, favourite local food and cultural recommendations, and a forthcoming book developed from their archive.
- Spend a Weekend in Blackpool With Matthew Spade
This Weekend With profile follows Blackpool-based content creator and editor Matthew Spade through his ideal local and travel-inspired weekend. He shares recommendations spanning the Grundy's Linder exhibition, design books and magazines, restaurants, homewares, clothing and a music playlist, alongside mementos collected on a trip to Copenhagen.
- Emma Giacalone turns retro food packaging into stitched reminders to be kinder to ourselves
Graphic designer Valeria Homayden’s Field Notes for Wonder explores microscopic and overlooked patterns in rocks, shells, leaves and moss. The project combines frame-by-frame Risograph animations with a pocket-sized field-guide publication containing found-pattern prints, readings and observational prompts intended to help readers slow down and engage with their surroundings.
- Eric Aydin-Barberini Breaks Photography Rules to Reflect His Autistic Perspective
The article profiles London-based photographer Eric Aydin-Barberini, who is redefining his photographic practice following a late autism diagnosis. Moving away from commercial perfectionism, he now uses distortion, blur, and light to express his sensory experiences and inner world. His work challenges conventional photographic rules to create more personal, painterly images.
- Blanca Doba builds Bare Earth into an enchanting beauty world
The article profiles designer Blanca Doba’s self-initiated identity project for a fictional beauty brand called Bare Earth. Drawing inspiration from nature and ornate typography, Doba created a delicate, whimsical visual system that contrasts her usual bold style. The project showcases her evolving approach to branding and storytelling through type, tone, and texture.
- Ayame Uchima Draws Imagined Lace With Threadlike Precision
The article profiles Paris-based illustrator Ayame Uchima, whose intricate lace-inspired drawings blur the line between textile craft and illustration. Trained in Lunéville embroidery, Uchima translates her fascination with lace-making into imagined, threadlike compositions that evoke both beauty and unease. The piece explores her process, inspirations, and the tactile precision behind her work.
- Family’s 70s Super 8 Archive Inspired Nina Maria Allmoslechner’s First Photobook
Photographer Nina Maria Allmoslechner’s debut photobook 'When White Blankets' draws on her family’s 1970s Super 8 archive to explore memory, loss, and climate change in the Austrian Alps. The bilingual publication merges three generations’ perspectives through photography, film stills, and writing, printed sustainably by KOPA in Lithuania. The project launched at The Photographers Gallery in London alongside a short film for International Day of Glaciers.
- Rapha Reboots Brand With Six Typefaces Inspired by Cycling Archives
Six agency collaborated with Frost type foundry to rebrand cycling brand Rapha through a new typographic system comprising six bespoke typefaces. Drawing from vintage cycling ephemera and archival materials, the project repositions Rapha with a contemporary yet heritage-informed identity. The rebrand focuses on typography as the brand’s voice, balancing technical precision with emotional resonance.
- How&How Rebrands Bristol Dockyards With Bold, Collaged Identity
How&How has rebranded Bristol’s historic dockyard area, uniting the SS Great Britain, the Being Brunel Museum, and the Brunel Institute under a single identity: Bristol Dockyards. The new visual system uses collage, bold typography, and a vibrant color palette inspired by the city’s architecture to modernize the landmark’s image and attract new audiences.
- Priscilla Saada’s Moons captures modern motherhood with humor and chaos
Paris-based photographer Priscilla Saada’s photobook 'Moons' captures the humor and chaos of modern motherhood through candid, dynamic portraits of mothers and their children. Collaborating with art director Valentine Etievant, Saada turned her intimate photo series into a hardback publication that celebrates imperfection and strength in everyday parenting. The project reflects a contemporary, self-directed approach to documentary photography and self-publishing.
- Glenn Kitson Celebrates British Colloquialisms in Strongbow Campaign
Director Glenn Kitson and creative agency Otherway have collaborated on a new Strongbow campaign celebrating British colloquialisms and authentic local voices. The film, soundtracked by The Streets, highlights regional dialects and everyday moments across the UK to reposition Strongbow as a cultural mainstay. The campaign spans TV, digital, and out-of-home posters, emphasizing community and national pride.
- Nice Groceries Revives Production With Analogue Film Craft
The article profiles California-based production agency Nice Groceries, founded by Annie Wood, which celebrates its first year by reviving analogue film techniques in commercial and independent projects. The studio’s work, including the short documentary 'Echoes Through Stone', emphasizes emotional storytelling and the tactile craft of film media. Through campaigns for brands like Patagonia and Salomon, Nice Groceries blends nostalgia and authenticity in a digital-dominated industry.
- Daryn Roongrawewan Crafts Ornamental Icons, Not Conventional Logos
The article profiles Berlin-based designer Daryn Roongrawewan, whose branding work replaces conventional logos with intricate ornamental icons. Drawing inspiration from vintage design, nature, and tactile materials, her projects for Atelier Lin and Padma demonstrate a deeply personal and handcrafted approach to visual identity design.
- Nikotin branding turns tobacco factory past into a bold cigarette logo
Bruges-based designer Davy Denduyver created the branding for Amsterdam restaurant Nikotin, transforming the site’s tobacco factory history into a bold, cigarette-shaped logo. The identity combines custom typography and hand-drawn ink lettering to balance a space-age aesthetic with a rough, analogue feel. The project was completed under tight deadlines in collaboration with interior designer Yoeri.
- Zander Raymond turns everyday debris into improvised collage art
The article profiles artist and designer Zander Raymond, whose collage practice transforms everyday debris into layered, improvised compositions. Using found materials like paper scraps, stickers, and envelopes, Raymond explores the agency of materials through lamination and relief printmaking, creating works that balance chance and intention.
- Hyejin Song’s book archives Jiro Ono’s sushi-making tools
The article profiles designer Hyejin Song’s self-initiated book project 'Jiro', inspired by the documentary 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi'. The publication archives the tools used by sushi master Jiro Ono and his staff, translating the film’s themes of repetition and discipline into a tactile, rhythmic print format. Through structured layouts and recurring imagery, Song captures the precision and craft of Tokyo’s most renowned kitchen.
- Steph Hardy Illustrates Sweet Treats and Comfort Snacks in Soft Style
The article profiles illustrator Steph Hardy’s latest body of work, which shifts from nature-inspired compositions to whimsical depictions of snacks and comfort foods in her signature soft, painterly style. It explores her evolving use of color, her process of layering and blending digital textures, and her recent collaborations with editorial and branding clients such as Queer Atmosphere and Coldcuts. Hardy also discusses her growing interest in animation and motion as a natural extension of her fluid mark-making.
- Harry Grundy Draws Abstract Sandpaper Works at 3,000RPM
The article profiles artist Harry Grundy’s new series of abstract sandpaper drawings created at 3,000RPM using woodworking tools. Developed over two years, the project explores the tension between speed and sensitivity, transforming industrial materials into delicate compositions. The works were exhibited in his solo show 'Full Pelt' at The Incubator Gallery and will appear in a forthcoming exhibition at New Art Projects in Islington.
- 4Creative splices visuals from the UK’s most iconic TV shows to make it’s new identity
4Creative, Channel 4’s in-house creative agency, has unveiled a new brand identity that celebrates its collaborative and playful culture. The rebrand features over 130 unique logos created by team members, integrating the Channel 4 mark with a rotating set of bespoke ‘C’ designs. The identity extends across a redesigned website and social channels, showcasing the agency’s creative legacy and evolving spirit.
- Hotel Retro revives graphic luggage labels from the golden age of travel
Letterform Archive has released 'Hotel Retro', a peel-and-stick book featuring 330 vintage luggage label designs from its extensive collection. Designed by San Francisco studio MacFadden & Thorpe, the publication celebrates the golden age of travel and the artistry of early commercial print design. The project revives historic ephemera through careful digitisation and reproduction, inviting readers to use the stickers as they were originally intended.
- Anaïs Kugel’s portraits are unmistakably from the female gaze
The article profiles Paris-based photographer and filmmaker Anaïs Kugel, whose work explores identity, intimacy, and femininity through a distinctly female gaze. Drawing inspiration from surrealist cinema, her portraits blend documentary realism with staged, dreamlike elements to question visibility, belonging, and representation. The feature highlights her self-portrait and collaborative series that challenge stereotypes and explore personal narratives.
- Discover the unconventional design details hidden between the pages of Neat Rodanant’s publications
The article profiles designer and sculptor Neat Rodanant, whose experimental publications treat books as sculptural, tactile objects. Through projects like 'Gum Girl', 'Psycho', and 'El Lissitzky On Type + Books', she explores the sensory and material possibilities of print, using unconventional materials and layouts to evoke emotion and narrative. Her work reflects influences from Irma Boom, Ben Denzer, and cinematic partnerships like Yorgos Lanthimos and Vasilis Marmatakis.
- “I love love”: Charlotte Winkler’s comics are all about care, connection and belonging
The article profiles illustrator and author Charlotte Winkler, whose comics and artist books explore themes of care, connection, and belonging. Her latest publication, 'Like a Mad Gardener', created with Colorama, blends essays and comics about gardening, land, and love, printed in a warm Risograph style. Winkler’s practice merges writing and illustration, drawing inspiration from everyday life and philosophical ideas.
- The grid system in Praktika’s new architecture identity takes inspiration from Lithuanian floor tiles
Praktika, a Lithuanian architecture and branding studio, has developed a new identity for the National Institute of Architecture in Kaunas. Drawing inspiration from the building’s black-and-white folk floor tiles, the studio created a flexible grid-based system and mosaic-like logo that can adapt across print, digital, and spatial applications. The design merges cultural heritage with modernist structure, reflecting the institute’s mission of openness and adaptability.
- The magic of self-publishing and lo-fi production comes alive in Eloise Aitken’s printed matter
The article profiles London-based designer Eloise Aitken and her self-published print projects that celebrate the tactile, imperfect qualities of lo-fi production. Drawing inspiration from 1970s radical print design and Xerox culture, Aitken’s zines and books like 'Loud Paper!' and 'Urgent Craft!' explore themes of cyberfeminism and independent publishing. Her work emphasizes the social and creative freedom of analogue processes in a digital age.
- Templo’s brand identity for climate non-profit Casi draws on the pragmatic mark-making of hieroglyphics
Templo has created a new brand identity for climate non-profit Casi that draws inspiration from hobo hieroglyphics and handcrafted mark-making. The project embraces imperfection and human warmth through hand-animated cut-outs and a minimal typographic system. The result is a living, expressive identity that reframes sustainability with optimism and creativity.
- Nao Lee’s posters are digital terrains that hide small and unruly treasures for you to find
The article profiles Seoul-based designer Nao Lee, known for her intricate, layered poster designs that blend digital noise, vernacular influences, and archaeological motifs. Lee’s work explores the tension between chaos and order, inviting viewers to discover hidden details and interpret meaning freely. The feature highlights her fascination with everyday design and her experimental approach to composition and texture.
- Step inside Linda Merad’s whimsical and poetic illustrated universe for Hermès
The article profiles Paris-based illustrator Linda Merad and her recent collaborations with Hermès, including the 2026 'Venture Beyond' campaign. Known for her whimsical, anthropomorphic characters, Merad brought her lithographic style to life through illustrations and animations created with animator Quentin Klein. The project extended across Hermès’ Instagram and website, showcasing her poetic visual universe.
- The joy and power of Risograph: Risotto showcases 400 printed postcards from artists across the globe
The article spotlights Glasgow-based print and design studio Risotto and its decade-long Riso Club project, which celebrates 100 months of artist postcards printed by hand. Founder Gabriella Marcella reflects on the studio’s origins, the appeal of Risograph printing, and the upcoming exhibition ‘Riso Club 100’ showcasing all 400 prints at The Glue Factory Galleries in Glasgow. The feature highlights the tactile joy and community spirit behind the project’s global reach.
- Sports mania meets small island life on Puerto Rican artist Joshua Nazario’s canvas
The article profiles Puerto Rican artist Joshua Nazario, whose self-taught practice blends painting and sculpture inspired by sports culture and island life. Using found materials like wood and cement, Nazario creates nostalgic, collage-like works that reflect Puerto Rico’s identity and his own upbringing. The piece coincides with his first US solo show, 'Allá Afera', at Luis De Jesús Los Angeles.
- “What if everyone started making out?” Andrea Marti’s horny photo series tackles Gen Z’s lack of intimacy head on
The article profiles photographer Andrea Marti and her project 'Everyone is Beautiful and No one is Horny', a staged photo series exploring Gen Z’s diminishing physical intimacy. Shot on film at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club, the project reimagines closeness among young people through nostalgic, pseudo-documentary imagery. The work has earned recognition from the British Journal of Photography and will be exhibited in London and Dublin.
- Liang-Hsin Huang’s comics sketch soft paths through nature
The article profiles illustrator Liang-Hsin Huang and her recent comic zines, including 'The Clouds' and 'The North Downs Way'. Drawing inspiration from her travels and natural landscapes, Huang explores new illustrative techniques using coloured paper, pastels, and chalk to capture soft, imaginative scenes. The piece highlights her shift from animation to comics as a more relaxed and exploratory creative process.
- Spillll is a queer culinary zine series that’s crafted with a decentralised design model
The article profiles Spillll, a queer East and Southeast Asian collective producing a series of culinary zines that merge food, politics, and identity. Using a decentralised design model, the four co-founders collaboratively write, illustrate, and design each issue through digital tools and tactile experimentation. Their Risograph-printed publications explore feminist and queer perspectives through the lens of shared meals and cultural dialogue.
- Lan Truong’s pen plotter paintings are making us way less wary of art made by machines
Illustrator Lan Truong explores the creative potential of pen plotters, transforming her digital illustrations into tactile, physical artworks. The article highlights her experiments with paint, markers, and inks, as well as her broader exploration of tools like embroidery and laser cutting. Truong’s work challenges perceptions of machine-made art, blending mechanical precision with a handmade feel.
- Pack your bags! A new picture book from Aysha Tengiz takes you on a tour around the world
Illustrator Aysha Tengiz has created 'Big Brilliant World', a richly detailed picture book published by Big Picture Press that takes readers on a visual journey through 12 global cities. Inspired by her mural near London’s Kings Cross and Ottoman miniature art, Tengiz uses a flat perspective to pack each spread with playful, colorful details. The project celebrates the enduring power of children’s books as imaginative, educational art forms.
- How Ffern is making branding feel less like advertising and more like cinema
The article explores how artisan perfume brand Ffern has built a cinematic approach to branding, using film as a central storytelling tool. Co-founder Emily Cameron discusses how the brand’s filmmaking mirrors its fragrance craft, focusing on natural beauty, authenticity, and sensory immersion. Each seasonal release is accompanied by a short film that deepens Ffern’s world-building and redefines what brand advertising can feel like.
- “A dyke is not a singular thing”: Emily Lipson’s new monograph resists queer stereotypes
Photographer Emily Lipson has released her first photobook, 'Dykes', a 220-page monograph featuring 50 portraits exploring the diversity of dyke identity. Designed with art director SJ Todd, the project resists stereotypes and celebrates fluid, self-defined expressions of queerness. The book combines analogue, AI, and collage techniques to create a layered, inclusive portrayal of community and identity.
- Anton Repponen found an award-winning photo project during a camera roll deep dive
The article profiles designer and photographer Anton Repponen’s project 'People Look at Art or Art Looks at People', a photographic series turned interactive website. Developed from years of candid museum photography, the project explores observation and curation, earning a Jury’s Choice award in ReadyMag’s 2025 Websites of the Year. Repponen discusses how the web experience extends the contemplative nature of viewing art in person.
- How Lily Kong’s series Sweet Escape reignited her intuitive approach to illustration
The article profiles illustrator Lily Kong and her self-initiated series 'Sweet Escape', a collection of colour-rich landscapes exploring the balance between flatness and texture. Created through analogue techniques like block printing and watercolour, the project culminated in an artist book produced during her residency at the London Centre for Book Arts. The work marks a return to intuitive, process-driven illustration for Kong, reconnecting her with nature and personal expression.
- These portraits capture the unsung heroes of editorial fashion
The article profiles 'Assistants', a new photobook by stylist Virginie Benarroch and photographer Lola Raban, published by Exhibition Studio. The project documents the often-overlooked work of stylist’s assistants through a series of intimate portraits that celebrate their creativity and craft. The book’s minimalist design and quiet sequencing reflect the understated beauty of its subject matter.
- Printmakers Who Shaped 50 Years of UK Graphic Art
The article celebrates the 50th anniversary of Harvey Lloyd Screens, a renowned East Sussex print studio whose experimental approach has shaped UK graphic art for decades. Curated by Owen Gildersleeve, the exhibition '50 Years of Print' showcases collaborations with artists like Anthony Burrill, Orla Kiely, and Mr Bingo, highlighting the studio’s fearless material experimentation and community spirit.
- A 50-year goldmine of design: AIGA New York unveils its poster archive to the public
AIGA New York has opened its 50-year poster archive to the public, offering a rare look into the city’s evolving design culture. The collection spans decades of events, exhibitions, and activism, reflecting shifts in typography, technology, and creative expression. Interviews with AIGA NY leaders highlight the archive’s role in connecting the community to a more tactile and human side of design history.
- PhotoVogue returns to its first theme
The article covers the 10th edition of PhotoVogue Festival in Milan, titled 'Women on Women', which revisits the theme of the female gaze. Directed by Alessia Glaviano, the exhibition features 45 artists from around the world exploring how women represent themselves and others through photography and film. The festival highlights the evolution of women’s authorship, emphasizing introspection, diversity, and self-determined vision in contemporary image-making.
- The imperfect animations of Orysia Zabeida are drawn frame-by-frame from memory
The article profiles animator Orysia Zabeida, whose frame-by-frame looping animations are drawn from memory and inspired by nature. Using Procreate, she creates small square-format animations that explore repetition, observation, and imperfection as a meditative process. The piece highlights her rejection of automated motion in favor of tactile, human-made craft.
- Visual communication that challenges convention: Phantasia on how graphic design can forge true collaboration
The article profiles Barcelona-based design studio Phantasia, founded by Malva Sawada, Edu Piracés, and Laura Santarelli. It explores how the studio’s collaborative and socially conscious approach informs projects like Barcelona Pride and Museu Habitat, emphasizing inclusivity, empathy, and experimentation in design. The piece highlights their commitment to community-oriented and research-driven visual communication.
- What if your finger turned into a slug? In Lily Shaul’s surreal animated world, nothing needs to make sense
The article profiles London-based illustrator and animator Lily Shaul, exploring her surreal and humorous animated shorts such as 'The Slug Finger' and 'Teeth Time'. Shaul’s work transforms mundane moments into magical, otherworldly scenes through hand-drawn animation and tactile materials like gouache and embroidery. Her vibrant use of colour and playful imagination define her distinctive visual world.
- Vlad Boyko on bringing back early 2000s clubbing visuals
The article profiles graphic designer Vlad Boyko, who has recently established a shared studio in Antwerp and developed a distinctive visual style inspired by early 2000s club culture. His 2025 Colour Factory NYE campaign exemplifies his vibrant, collage-based approach and interest in nostalgic aesthetics. Boyko reflects on balancing freelance work, creative burnout, and the value of self-initiated, community-driven projects.