Duration: I have been freelancing as an illustrator for five years in total—there were not enough clients the first year to make it full-time, though. During my school years, I continued freelancing on the side and have been working full-time upon graduating in 2019.

Location: Stockholm, Sweden.

Education: BA in design from Högskolan för design och konsthantverk (School of Design and Crafts) at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; MA in visual communication from Konstfack (University of Arts, Crafts and Design), Stockholm, Sweden.

Career path: I went to different preparatory art schools and got in touch with a publisher to publish a collection of drawings, which got me interested in book design and print. I like to draw and create visuals, so I aspired for that to be my profession pretty early on. And, illustration was the field that I found the most interesting.

Now I create drawings, illustrations and graphics, as well as comics and animations. Some of my work has been for editorials or cover illustrations for magazines, but I create a lot for publishers and posters for events. I have also started illustrating children’s books, and I have been creating graphic novels, comic books and art books for a number of years.

Favorite project: If I had to pick a favorite, it would be my comic book MONDO, published in 2017; it won awards from Svensk Bokkonst (Swedish Book Art Association) for best book design and from Swedish comic book organization Seriefrämjandet for best comic book.

Work environment: I work from home in my very small apartment in the south of Stockholm. It has two desks: one desk for drawing on paper with an assortment of pens, and one desk with a computer for doing digital work. There is not a lot of room, but I don’t mind. Stockholm is a good town for creative professionals—I have a lot of colleagues here—but unfortunately, the rent situation is terrible. I will probably move to a house in the countryside at some point.

Approach: I try to give everything a personal touch so that each work is something distinct. And I add a bit of energy as well—I like experimenting. In turn, that means my work has a certain style, of course, which is not for every project or client. I always try to be flexible and deliver something appropriate.

Aspirations: In the future, I’d like to do more fun projects, graphic novels and children’s books. Getting published abroad and finding more international clients for illustration work are also two of my goals. I’d like to do more graphic design as well—I want to get more into typography so I can combine it with illustration.

Philosophy: Always observe the world around me and be curious about it. Always try to challenge myself in different ways. Always try to evolve and learn more, and not follow trends or try to fit into popular mainstream movements. Make work that stands on its own.

Anything else? I have a lot of new things happening this year! Please look forward to an extra-large-sized art book with ink drawings, and my first proper graphic novel, which I am working on right now.