This month we are in an indian summer mood! Maybe you already saw the first photo’s of our (maybe a bit cold..) picnic. But what you didn’t know, is that we weren’t alone. We invited designer Ymke to join our picnic with her little son Felix in city park Zwolle. You may know Ymke under the name reneesillustrations on Motiflow.”
"A picnic... I can't say no to that!"
Picnic... YAY!
When we asked Ymke if she wanted to join are picnic she immediately said yes! “In the old days, my college days, we went for a picnic very often. We even had barbeques in the park of Utrecht with all our friends. Talking about it I realize it would be a good time for a little picnic-reunion!"
From journalism to designing
In between the biscuits with jam we asked Ymke how she started as a designer. “It all started with my study journalism. During my graduation year I chose the specialization Editorial Design to unfold my creativity. During my study I run an internship at the infographic redaction of ‘Algemeen Dagblad’, a dutch newspaper.” The difference between a ‘normal’ illustration is that the goal of an infographic is to inform the reader, therefore numbers and tables are often used. “This makes the text much more interesting. And that’s where my passion for designing really started.”
Working for education, news papers and magazines
"After my internship I first worked as a freelancer, after that I worked two years in employment. But it didn't take much time for me to start for myself! With my own company Ymke’s infographic’s I make infographics for education (school books), news papers, magazines and websites. I enjoy informing people with visual illustrations, and I enjoy learning them something. It challenges me because you really need to think about which images to use and what perception of those images is for people."
Creativity all over
She still likes making infographics, but she had an overload of creativity left which she couldn't express in her infographics. An infographic is after all made in commission. During her pregnancy she noticed how man inspiration she had, and she wanted to use this. "When I came across Motiflow, I didn't doubt for a second. It was just what I was looking for! I grabbed my laptop and got to work. And yes, I design everything digital! In fact: when I draw something it looks like a four year old's drawing."
Happy, everyday patterns with lots of color
Ymke already uploaded so many happy designs at Motiflow. 168 and counting.. From a happy lemons pattern we choose for the picnic blanket, to flamingo's and rocket ice creams. Ymke has a graphic, happy, colorful and 'everyday' style. She gets her inspiration from everything surrounding her. You immediately see that the inspiration she uses, are 'everyday' things. Like an egg or a a coffee pot. You recognize them from a far distance. Even though a flamingo isn't something you see everyday, but that's just what makes it fun. "The whole world can inspire you! The whole clue of my designs is that they - instead of my infographics - don't need to have a goal. I just design what I like, it's a way to give free reign to my creativity."
Addictive
"Sometimes it almost works addictive. I often make different sets of one pattern, for example in different colors. I also like mixing up patterns. Just because it's possible!" En that's why scrolling trough Ymke's patterns is so addictive. You see something you like (flamingo's), than you see another thing you like (pineapples), and than in another pattern you see those things combined! Pineapples ánd flamingo's? Wait... and also with rocket ice creams? Aaah, I want it! Take a look.
Curious
The most fun part of having her patterns on Motiflow is the curiosity she experiences when somebody orders something with her pattern. "At that moment I made someone happy with a design of my own, how cool is that?! It makes me so curious. What are people going to do with my print, will it end up as wallpaper in a kids room? Or does somebody crawls against a selfmade pillow with my print tonight? I can think about it for hours!"
Let us know!
According to us, just tag her @reneesillustrations if you made something from her printed design, or send her a personal message. This also goes for other designers. So don't forget to always use #motiflow when you share something on social media! We enjoy it, and we think most of our designers are as curious as Ymke!
"I use my laptop,
when I draw something it looks like a four year old's drawing."
Tip from Ymke
"On Motiflow you see so many awesome patterns that it's hard to choose. Don't know what to make from it? Just think about things you use in everyday life. A placemat, a table cloth, or a poncho. Yes.. there my love for the 'everyday ordinary' comes around again. 😉 But this way you will have most fun. Also if you order something with your own design! And.. sometimes you just need to order what you like. And the inspiration will follow automatically!"
Want to know more about a designer you spotted on Motiflow? Maybe you have a nice dilemma to submit? Let us know!