Our Favourite local Women Designers and Illustrators
March is Women’s History Month and as a design studio with an all women team, we’re passionate about uplifting and supporting women in our industry. Last year, in honour of Women’s History Month, we compiled a list of 12 Women Owned Businesses That We Love. This year we’ve put together a list showcasing some of our favourite Albertan women designers and illustrators. We’re so inspired by the work of these women and feel so grateful to be part of a community of women designers and illustrators.
Image via amandaschutz.com, work created by Amanda Schutz
Amanda Schutz — Creative Director of Curio Studio
Amanda Schutz is an Edmonton based illustrator and graphic designer. Amanda founded Edmonton’s Curio Studio and Canadian Women in Design, which is dedicated to highlighting the talented women of the Canadian Design community (check out LCC’s interview with CWID here). We are huge admirers of Amanda’s expressive illustrations and her design work with Curio Studio. Her autobiographical comics are full of humour and reflect her, sometimes chaotic, daily life as a mom and business owner.
Image via veekee.ca, work created by Vikki Wiercinski.
Vikki Wiercinski
Vikki Wiercinski is an Edmonton based graphic designer, print maker and multidisciplinary artist. Her colourful work is bursting with energy and her distinct visual style translates across mediums, from visual design to murals. Wiercinski also maintains a ceramics practice and her ceramics are a wonderful mix of minimalism and ornamentation. In a world of digital design, Wiercinski’s work has a delightfully analog flavour.
She also acted as lead organizer for Royal Bison Art & Craft Fair, which is fondly remembered by Edmonton art enthusiasts, and Rabarbar Press, Edmonton’s first Risograph printing studio.
Image via voidpaperco.com, work created by Saje Damen
SAJe Damen
Saje Damen is the founder and design mastermind behind the Calgary based spooky paper goods company Void Paper Co. Damen has designed a range of perfectly kitschy goods (including note pads, cards and stickers) that sit at the intersection of design and illustration. Damen’s use of brilliant colours and risoprinting that bring an energetic feeling to the ghostly characters featured in her illustrations.
Image via pastureland.ca, work created by Geneva Haley.
Geneva Haley
Geneva Haley is an artist and illustrator based in Calgary. Her work highlights the beautiful and occasionally haunting landscape of rural Alberta and all the critters that call the prairies home. Haley’s illustrations show a thoughtful mind that is constantly observing the natural world around her and synthesizing it into her totally unique illustration style.
Haley is the co-owner of Hemlock Tattoo Studio and has worked with Calgary Folk Music Festival to develop their 2022 and 2023 visual identities, both of which are equal parts folksy, fun and delicately beautiful.
Image via micetype.ca, work created by Lyndsay Wasko.
Lyndsay Wasko
Lyndsay Wasko is a Calgary based illustrator and graphic designer with a keen eye and a thoughtful approach to both design and illustration. Wasko’s portfolio highlights her ability to move seamlessly between branding design and painterly illustration, and shows her boundless creativity.
Wasko previously worked at Daughter Creative and is currently running her own micropress, MiceType. MiceType produces beautiful, unique children’s books created by local creatives. Birders and illustration enthusiasts will love Wasko’s charming children’s book Best Nest, published by MiceType.
Image via heyemilychu.com, work created by Emily Chu.
Emily Chu
Emily Chu is an illustrator and visual artist based in Edmonton, with work ranging from community murals to commercial illustrations. Through bright and playful illustrations, Chu allows her visual narratives to speak. She has created editorial illustrations for a wide range of clients and her murals can be found around Calgary and Edmonton.
Chu’s illustration practice also explores her heritage through visual storytelling and she is currently working on a graphic novel about “the last house in Chinatown”.
Image via natasiadesigns.com, work created by Natasia Martin.
Natasia Martin
Natasia Martin is an illustrator and lettering artist based in Edmonton. Martin runs her own illustration and art studio, and creates paper goods featuring her illustrations. Her illustrations are filled with contrasts — vivid colours paired with muted tones, flowing organic shapes with structured geometric elements, clean lines with gritty textures. These contrasts create an enchanting and welcoming visual world within her illustrations. Her playful approach to lettering pairs perfectly with her illustration style
We at Lianne Charlene Creative truly believe in uplifting other women, especially women in design. As a women-led and women-run studio, it is important for us to create space for other women in our industry, support them, be inspired by them, and highlight their incredible work.
- The LCC Team