We’re back with our latest artist in residence - Blakeley Dunn. Blakeley is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Colorado. No stranger to adventure, you’ll often find her car camping in her Land Cruiser, taking inspiration from the road for her creative work.
Blakeley has worked on some epic t-shirt, sweatshirt, vest, hoodie, and blanket designs for our SS26 collection, so let’s get to know her a little…
Blakeley Dunn, how did you get into illustration and design, what is it you love about it?
I got into illustration and design in 2020 when the whole world was shut down. Around that time, my mom bought an iPad because she wanted to start drawing digitally—but I ended up borrowing it and teaching myself how to draw and design in Procreate. From that point on, I haven’t stopped illustrating or designing. I work on projects almost every day.
I love illustrating and designing because it brings me so much joy to bring other people’s visions to life. It’s also a meaningful way for me to express my creativity and connect with others through art.
How would you describe your particular style and where do you gather inspo?
I would describe my art style as mainly simple line work with minimal color. I draw a lot of inspiration from traveling, camping, fly fishing, working on my Land Cruiser, and spending time outdoors.
What part does illustration play in your wellbeing?
I think the part of illustration that most supports my well-being is working on my own pieces—designs that aren’t for anyone else, just for me. Creating purely for fun allows me to relax, recharge, and enjoy the process without pressure. And be ready to start working on other projects for my clients.
Talk us through the designs for Passenger’s collection
I’m super excited about this project and the opportunity to work with Passenger. This collection is all about the outdoors—exploring new places, slowing down, and getting outside. I love the simplicity and intention behind the designs, and I focused on clean lines to capture that feeling of stepping away from the busyness of everyday life and reconnecting with nature.
A lot of my inspiration came directly from time spent outside—desert landscapes, mountain ranges, and the experience of camping and exploring in these wide-open, inspiring places. I wanted each design to feel grounded in those environments.
For the color palette, I kept things simple and intentional, but made sure the colors still feel bright and eye-catching. Overall, I hope these designs reflect a true sense of adventure and encourage people to get outside, explore, and enjoy the natural world.
Top albums you play whilst in the studio?
That’s a hard question—I play so much music in my art studio. I listen to a lot of Gregory Alan Isakov, Hazlett, Bon Iver, Olivia Dean, and the list goes on. No matter what I’m working on, I always have music playing in the background.
Any cool projects or news you have that you want to share?
Over the last year, I’ve had the opportunity to work on so many exciting and meaningful projects, including collaborating with Casting for Recovery. Through that partnership, I designed a drift boat—an experience that meant a lot to me. Casting for Recovery is an incredible organization that brings together women facing breast cancer at all stages of treatment and recovery. Through outdoor retreats, they create space for connection, inspiration, and healing in nature.
This past year, I’ve also expanded the types of projects I take on, which has pushed me to grow creatively. I’ve spent more time developing my own design ideas, and that creative freedom has brought a lot of joy and renewed energy to both my work and my everyday life. I’m excited to see where this next year takes me and what new opportunities and projects lie ahead.
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