Alyssa Butcher

Tell us about where it all began. How did you become a graphic designer?

Architecture was something I had glorified all throughout high school. I wanted to drink coffee and sit on a hill overlooking the city and sketch high rises day in, day out. This dream was cut short when I realised that what I had imagined wasn’t quite the reality. I still have a passion for Architecture but my passion for graphic design has definitely outweighed it. Graphic design had always been in the forefront of my mind - I was always the kid in school that would put together the yearbooks, help design logos for musicals, and spent all of her downtime learning new programs so it felt like quite a natural transition for me.

How would you describe your style?

I’d say my style is a simplistic and minimal approach of converting iconic Australian products into two-dimensional compositions. My work is definitely a tribute to my childhood - and I really try to select products, characters and people that influenced the person I am today. The real importance to me lies deep within the nostalgia connected to the products I draw, and I hope that when my audience see my illustrations it resurfaces memories. I discovered this style of illustration completely accidentally. While I can’t quite remember a time before computers existed, I have always had an appreciation for graphic designers that worked magic without the assistance of an iMac and the adobe suite and somehow still managed to make exciting, beautiful and inspiring designs. This appreciation has definitely translated across into my work through the use of colours and simplicity.

What are your influences?

Nostalgia plays a very big part in my inspirations. Let me paint a picture. You know, when you were a kid, and you’d come home from a tough day of being in grade 3 and sit in front of the TV with your favourite snacks and watch ABC Kids, then go for a play outside with the neighbour’s kids and life was just so simple and blissful? I really want to revisit those memories and help keep them alive for as long as possible and I try to do that through my illustrations.

What’s your design process?

My design process isn’t very methodical. It changes as frequently as my favourite colour does. However, it usually goes something like this - spark of inspiration while driving, eating lunch, or during the commercial breaks while watching TV and then the biggest urge to start drawing straight away. As a digital designer I use my Wacom or iPad to sketch however sometimes I’ll quickly scribble a composition idea or write some notes on some loose paper and pray it doesn’t get lost in my bag.

Have you ever been commissioned to do any strange/unusual illustrations?

I’m challenged on a daily basis through my job; especially in the Illustration department. In a day I can go from illustrating flax seeds to doing a fashion illustration and back around to drawing dogs and smoothies. This kind of variety definitely keeps me on my toes but I undeniably love the challenge.

What has been your favourite project so far?

I absolutely love being commissioned to design a branding package from scratch. The thought process, the ideation phase, sketching and presenting ideas to a client gives me such a thrill. My favourite commissioned project would have to be a package I designed for a café in Rockhampton named “Archer Brothers.” The illustration component of this package still makes me so happy.

If you could steal credit for any great piece of art, song, film, book etc which one would you claim and why?

I’d steal the credit for everything Walt Disney did - the original illustrations/storylines/movies, all of it! When I recently visited Disneyland I sat in the room that showcased the illustrations, animation process and models and have never felt so inspired. The whole world knows about Disney, how cool is that?

Would you let us hook up your ‘Recently Played’ list on Spotify to the office speakers?

I’d encourage it. Go ahead. My account is under @lysbutcher

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Smashing it. I hope that I’m still prioritising my creativity and accepting challenges that will help me grow as an individual and a designer.

If you could be any animal in the world, what animal would you be and why?

My dog, Spencer. Because I spoil him.

If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

“My Happiness” by Powderfinger. It is such a beautiful song, how could anyone get tired of it?

Two things that are unique about Alyssa!

// I get way too excited over finding visually and physically appealing designs than I rightfully should. // I have just started ballet as an adult.

ARTWORK //

My Illustration ”Nineties Kid” is a tribute to growing up in the nineties in Australia, it’s a small recollection of memories that influenced and shaped the person I am today. In retrospect, the colours, products, logos, illustrations helped me gain a large respect toward design and illustration, it introduced me into the design industry from when i was a child.

The real importance of @_projectpencil to me, lies within the nostalgia that is connected to the products I draw. I want to give my audience that hit of nostalgia and take them straight back to a memory attached to what I have illustrated.