We often work with illustrators for Anthology, not just for “Making the Magazine” and other small sections, but also for feature articles. We do this because we love turning the page to discover a fully illustrated story, and it can also be a nice visual break from the photographic spreads. Plus, it’s a real treat to collaborate with other artists and see how they develop a concept.
Despite all of this, I still somehow manage to take for granted how much of our visual world belongs to illustrators, especially when it comes to prints and patterns. As you can see in the work of Aino Maija-Metsola, the woman behind many of Marimekko’s most stunning textile prints, the strongest patterns work successfully in all iterations: flat on a canvas, stretched over a sofa, or cut and sewn into a blouse. Big or small, flat or fluid, these illustrated designs are lovely in all forms. Seeing her work, I’m reminded to take greater notice of the patterns around me, and appreciate the hands that first took pen, pencil, or paintbrush to paper to make the design come alive.
