Nubby Twiglet is a blogger and graphic designer living in Portland

How did you get started as a designer?

I’d always been interested in art but I wasn’t sure how viable it was as a career option — I knew that I didn’t want to finish school only to find myself in the position of a starving artist. It wasn’t until years later that I discovered graphic design, after I’d already graduated with a business degree. Having a defined style came very naturally to me and I began picking up small freelance jobs. My technical skills weren’t the strongest but I was still pretty fearless and handed out my business cards everywhere I went — and the work followed.

I finally started taking design classes in 2006 and things just clicked. I knew that I was finally in the right place. By my second semester of community college classes, I was doing work for Virgin Records. My first agency internship led to my first design job and I’ve been working nonstop since. It hasn’t always been smooth but I feel lucky that I get to do what I love every day.

In addition to being a designer, you also display work in galleries around the world. Tell us about your fine art work.

My art is composed of collaged layers on wood or ceramic and features self portraits and strong type and is always topped off with a shiny coat of resin. If you sit in front of a computer for most of the day, changing things up is really important. Creating art and working with your hands gets your mind working in a completely different way. I love the imperfect aspect of working on fine art; there is no command to undo a mistake and I find that refreshing.

Your blog, NubbyTwiglet.com shares many aspects of your life, from your design and fine art work to how you dress, where you vacation and how you decorate your home, Wolfgang Manor. Why did you choose to share so much of yourself online, and how did it impact your career?

I’ve been blogging in some form since 2001 so it’s very natural for me to share more than just my design work. I feel that we are all more than our careers or job titles — my surroundings, personal style and work are all connected to form a much bigger picture. I am constantly inspired by looking at other people’s blogs online and in a way, I want to provide inspiration as well and give something back, whether that’s through sharing work or offering advice. Of course, at the same time it’s important to be aware and not over-share.

Overall, I’ve found that people appreciate a more personal connection and are interested in knowing more about who they choose to hire to bring their design project to life. The personal connection that I form with my clients and readers is really important; I want them to feel like they can trust me and on a certain level, know me because most of them are in other states or countries!

Your graphic design work has a very defined, Nubby Twiglet style- very clean lined and minimalist. What draws you to this aesthetic?

I’ve always been drawn to Swiss design of the 60s and 70s which is very minimal with a limited color palette. I feel that some of the best design really is the most simple. My goal is to have the work I produce feel timeless. Though at the same time, it’s really important to be well-rounded and to be able to do more than just ‘your’ style. I’ve worked on plenty of large-scale corporate jobs that stretched on for months where my personal aesthetics got completely thrown out the window! I always welcome a challenge because it forces me to grow as a designer.

What’s your dream project?

I’m working on some projects that I’m pretty excited about at the moment but my ultimate dream? To work as a designer at Elle Magazine in New York. Fashion and editorial design are huge passions of mine. Maybe, someday!

Words by Molly Crabapple