Top 5 Graphic Designers Selling the Merch We NEED
Written by Taralyn Carver RGD, BOLD LIP
By Taralyn Carver RGD, Creative Director and Partner at Jane Doe Studio.
My birthday is the time of year when I justify a single purchase that's just for me. This year my gift to myself was Jade Purple Brown's "Speak Up Throw Blanket". Did I need it? No. Did I want it? Heck yeah, I did. The perfect self-birthday gift!
If I had five birthdays, these inventive merch items from some of the world's top designers + multi-disciplinary artists would top my wish list:
Jade Purple Brown's Speak Up Throw Blanket
The Speak Up Throw Blanket is inspired by confident women who aren't afraid to let their voices be heard
Retail: $245 CAD (tax + ship included)
Jade Purple Brown is killing it — her vibrant design approach fills my soul with joy and she recently shot to design fame with her art being the splash image for Illustrator 2021. And, her merch is dope as hell. This throw is now sold out — but it's still worth sharing because a) it's a beautiful example of pushing graphic design and illustration beyond screen and paper and into something you can drape over yourself while binging Netflix and b) it's a gentle reminder to follow your favourite creative and watch for these merch drops so that you don't miss out!
Jason Naylor's OPN HEART Face Masks
Make your face Creatively Positive x Positively Creative
Retail: $30 CAD (tax + ship included)
Jason's work consists of bright colours and rich blacks and regularly contains messages of love and positivity, as he believes that kindness is the key to success. What else could you want during these trying times? I love following his work because, beyond being absolutely flawless, he works to build up a community of creators around him. He launches new material every month on opnheart.com, but these masks are part of his permanent collection, so there is no worrying about throwing up elbows to get yourself one.
Temi Coker's Headphones
100% of Profits from the Master & Dynamic for Temi Coker Collection will benefit the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.
Retail: $345 CAD (tax + ship included)
Temi Coker's work is jaw-dropping and I was excited to see this collaboration with Master + Dynamic to create a small line of headphones and earphones. What's even more exciting — every single penny from this collection will benefit the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, a non-profit named after Ella Baker, a brilliant Black hero of the civil rights movement. Following in her footsteps, the Ella Baker Center organizes with Black, Brown and low-income people to shift resources away from prisons and punishment and toward opportunities that make our communities safe, healthy and strong. Great artist, great cause, great merch.
Daphna Sebbane's Skate Deck Series
Steep concave, all-natural veneer skate deck with custom bottom print using digital and screenprinting. #skatedeckart #occultart
Retail: $94 CAD (tax + ship included)
Daphna's work is inspired by the southwest, the occult and all things mystical. She combines beautiful types with line-drawn art to create these stunning, vintage-inspired insignias. Her work is so rad that it only makes sense she prints it onto a skate deck. 4 designs to choose from. Grab one or mix and match them! Gimme gimme!
Robin Eisenberg's Galaxy Swimsuit
Vibrant galaxy fantasy printed on a one-piece swimsuit.
Retail: $85 CAD (tax + ship included)
Robin's sending us to the moon with this galaxy swimsuit fantasy. Her art takes us into another universe, where the pizza is as hot as the ladies. Printing her space fantasy onto a cute suit feels totally on-brand for this LA-based artist/animator: flirty, fun and fem.
Taralyn Carver RGD
BOLD LIP
Through design and creative direction, I create strategically reliable experiences for my clients and their audiences.
It has been a longtime dream of mine to work at a place where creatives, especially women, are granted the time, mentorship, and support they need to produce outstanding work. I would co-create that place in 2020 alongside longtime colleague Joanne Gallop. At BOLD LIP, I lead exceptionally talented women and bring seriously fun brands to life.
BOLD LIP is a creative studio with combined expertise in many channels and industries. It offers visual and messaging support to brands at their inception, refreshing their identity or maintaining a well-loved presence. We are a seriously fun team of women who bring meticulous attention to detail and a holistic view that makes for seamless, evergreen work.
