Today we’re going behind the scenes and chatting with one of our designers, Ian Koenig. Ian is the designer of Neo Luna, our February design of the month (on sale through 2/28 for up to 20% off!), and was kind enough to share a little inspiration behind this design, how he got started and where he’s drawing inspiration from these days.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work.
I currently live in Chicago with my wife Melinda and our four-year old son Lukas. I work at VSA Partners and teach design at the Chicago Portfolio School.
What was your inspiration behind the Neo Luna design?
Neo Luna was a continuation of an idea I had in an earlier design called Anais which was to try to get as much color into a design through an array of rules. With Neo Luna, I wanted to have a bit more fun than I did with Anais so I made the language and typography a bit more playful and introduced the Cupid idea through the arrow and heart elements.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Still having Friday night movie nights with my family, still working at VSA, still teaching and still designing invitations for you guys!
Who are you inspired by?
My current design loves: A Montreal-based firm named Paprika; The Book Cover Archive; the art direction of John Gall’s Nabokov book cover series; Designspiration; the illustrator Jonas Bergstrand; the designer Paul Sahre, the album All Day by Girl Talk.
How did you get into design? Was there a defining point in your life that helped shape you as a designer?
During my last semester in college, I took my first art studio class. With two weeks to go before graduation, I was on my way to class and saw the graphic design student’s work on the walls. I knew instantly I could do this type of work and was then a bit bummed that I had not made that walk four years earlier!
I rediscovered design a little while later after I quit my first real job. A friend of a friend was opening a children’s restaurant and I offered to draw him a logo. He liked it and gave me the opportunity to design the uniforms, menus, signage and the business cards. That small introduction to design was all I needed. I am still hooked.
A sea-side wedding complimented in sweet pastels is the perfect event for our Charlotte letterpress wedding invitations.
charlotte customization = inks: prussian blue + sea-side | fonts: gotham + social | paper: ivory | invite size: f-8 | liner: sweet polka in wisteria ink | original design by Jessica Tierney | customized by in-house designer Brenda Fox |
embellishment suggestions: foil stamping in silver matte
(Photo Credits one | two)
A shimmery little invite suite we printed for the great team over at Elizabeth Grace. This set isn’t based on any one of our designs in particular since it was custom created and the design files were submitted based on the client’s ideas.
letterpress ink: pewter | foil: gold shine | fonts: submitted | paper: 1-ply white | invite size: f8 | customization #: 16068 |
This gorgeous customization of our Emile design takes beauty to a whole new level by using additional motifs from our design library. The combination of silver shine foil and lavender letterpress work perfectly on each piece, as the hand calligraphy accents add a personal touch.
letterpress ink: lavender | foil: silver shine | font: baskerville | calligraphy: Lady M, by Kelle McCarter | paper: 2-ply white | size: f8 | customization #: 15598 |
Sandy beaches, bare feet and cool blue hues are perfect for a New England destination wedding. If you are hoping to wow your guests and give them a taste of the chic summer celebration you’re planning, then Montauk is your design. Crisp and cool with classic type, this design looks beautiful in cobalt letterpress ink (but you can choose any of our 50+ letterpress inks if you’d like!).
(Photo Credits: Style Me Pretty)
The Tara design (by Ben Whitla) has always been a popular one when it comes to celebrating a Bat Mitzvah – and this one’s in a cool color palette we’re excited to share. Letterpressed in papaya and charcoal inks these invitations overflow with a sweet and vintage character.
inks: charcoal + papaya | fonts: moravia + billhead + knockout + pyramid | paper: 2-ply white | invite size: f8 | customization #: 15720 |
Lovely lace and a bit of fun, bold colors make our Ursula design an easy pick for your upcoming “I do’s”!
urusla customization = inks: coral + charcoal | font: jubilant | calligraphy: maura hand calligraphy | paper: white | invite size: F8 | liner: diego in jade | original design by Aimee O’Boyle | customized by in-house designer Racheal Bumbolo |
embellishment suggestions: edge paint in jade
(Photo Credits: ruth eileen photography)
Another beautiful run of Ian Koenig‘s La Salle design we printed recently for our friends over at Urbanic Paper Boutique. Love this design in general, and it works really well as a square (the original design‘s shown as a rectangle). This kind of thing (going from rectangle to square) is just one of many customizations we can make to any design for no extra charge.
ink: charcoal + lavender | fonts: eros + kunsel + conquerer | paper: 1-ply white | invite size: sq7 | customization #: 15776 |
Are you planning an eco chic wedding filled with greenery and romance? Surround yourself with a cascading floral arch and our fitting Romantic Floral letterpress wedding invitations to set the tone for an enchanted garden wedding. Our invitations are printed on 100% reclaimed cotton paper, and if you want to let your guests know you’re planning a wedding with the planet it mind, we can print free eco specs on the back of your invites to let your guests know!
(Photo Credits: Style Me Pretty)
Check out these customizations of our Neo Luna letterpress invitations (the February design of the month – on sale for up to 20% off!). Our designers reimagined this design to show just how customizable it is — make it formal (or modern! or vintage!), change the size, the colors, the fonts, and more.
Take a look at the entire Neo Luna suite for more inspiration. If you’re still needing ideas, our talented design team can help you with a free design consultation after you’ve placed your order! (Find out more about what we can do for you).
This Simple Dot (by Sarah Gluchacki) letterpress set inviting guests to a bridal beauty party are too cute! What better way to invite your closest gal pals to an all ladies affair that’s complete with manicures and pedicures? Complete with a fuchsia envelope liner in our classic chevron pattern, we just love this last feminine touch. Thanks go out to our friends at Byrd + Bleecker for sending these our way!
inks: aquamarine + fuchsia| fonts: streamline + submitted | paper: 1-ply white | invite size: a6 | liner: the classic chevron pattern in fuchsia | customization #: 15825 |
Autumn berries and clear blue skies inspire this customization of our Mae letterpress wedding invitation design by Ian Koenig. The invitation is paired with a custom design-inspired liner (additional charges apply – or substitute one of our standard liners)!
mae customization = inks: cherry + taupe | fonts: botany + marilyn | paper: white | invite size: f-8 | liner: custom mae-inspired pattern in cherry + taupe + cobalt inks | original design by Ian Koenig | customized by in-house designer Sarah Gluchacki |
embellishment suggestions: edge painting: cobalt
(Photo Credits: A Photo Flora)
