Libby VanderPloeg's art can be found on our Pinterest and inspiration boards since the very beginning of our adventures.

 

She's been a source of inspiration with her beautiful and socially commited illustrations and animations.

 

Libby is with us today, let's meet her, shall we?

 

Ahoy Libby! Welcome to our journal, we are so happy to have you here with us today! Could you introduce yourself to our sailors?

Hi there! My name is Libby VanderPloeg and I’m an artist, illustrator, and designer based in Michigan. I’m probably best known for my colorful, whimsical maps and my playful animated gifs. My work is inspired both by the beauty of the natural world and the vibrant communities I’ve called home throughout the years. When I’m not making art, I might be out walking my dog, Tucker, or working in my happy place– the garden!

 

We discovered your work years ago with a beautiful animated illustration of women helping each other and we believed it had the perfect amount of cuteness and social commitment. Do you think it’s important that your work shows values that matter, like feminism?

Yes, I do think it brings an extra level of satisfaction when my work can be more than just cute, and communicate an important social message. Art can be a powerful tool that way, showing people ideas that they may have otherwise not been drawn to. It’s always so exciting when that sort of creative inspiration strikes, but I don’t think that artists should make work with that mission in mind necessarily. I feel that sort of pressure can inhibit creativity. Time for play in art is so important!

 

We love your illustrated maps! How did you start illustrating them? What’s your inspiration to do so?

I’ve always been so fascinated with maps. I still remember studying every road atlas we toted along on our family roadtrips, wondering how the mapmakers fit so much info onto the pages. But I didn’t start illustrating them until about 10 years ago, when I worked on a series of  “24 Hours In…” city maps for Design*Sponge. You might say this series really put me on the map, hehe, because shortly thereafter I got to create my own big calendar of city maps for Anthropologie, map murals for Levain Bakery, and various maps for all kinds of clients like New York Times, Nosy Crow, AFAR, Glamour and Food52. I just love making maps because I’m so fascinated with travel and learning about new places. Making maps has opened up worlds to me!

 

 

You’ve worked with huge clients like Anthropology or Adidas, do these kind of clients respect your creativity and ideas? What’s your favorite commission you’ve worked on so far?

I feel lucky to say that I have worked with such wonderful clients who truly do respect my creativity! Sure, sometimes a client might ask for a color tweak here or there, but generally I’ve been given a lot of freedom to be creative and follow my instincts. I have a lot of favorite commissions, but I think my favorites continue to be the maps that I make for Levain Bakery. I love hiding all of the cookie moments throughout them :)

 

 

Did you know Don Fisher before we got in touch with you? What do you like the most about our maritime universe?

Don Fisher definitely caught my eye before you got in touch! I just adore the colors, playful approach to design, and reflection of our beautiful, underwater world. The attention to detail with each Bonito is so fun! They just make me smile everytime I look at them.

 

Thank you so much, Libby! Such a pleasure getting to know a bit more about you.

 

You can follow Libby's updates on her Instagram account and get tons of inspiration browsing her projects on her website.