Whether it’s a lucky race tee or sassy message on a hat, clothing should inspire you. At rabbit, we love to collab with artists to give an extra boost on your run. For this year’s Cali Vibes collection, we scouted out the perfect designer to create our next iconic print for the Low Tide and new Surf’s Up. Meet illustrator Anna Hurley: raised in CA, studied graphic design in Pasadena, works in the Bay Area, and loves to surf in San Diego. She shares her story, the design process, and what Cali Vibes mean to her.
How did you become an illustrator?
I have been in the industry for 20 years. I studied graphic design, back when that was a hip thing to do. And then realized that I didn't really care much for design after I got my degree. I mean, I liked it. But I liked illustrating more, especially very colorful, bright, fun things.
I bounced between a few jobs. Hello Lucky Studio did a lot of retro, sort of cutesy, vintage stuff, which was highly influential for me. Learning about print production and reading cards and stationery and stuff and just drawing whatever they let me draw. And I realized that I could give this illustration thing a go if I wanted to. So after that I went to Yelp as a marketing illustrator, then Hatch Design where I got to illustrate and design at the same time, and then another tech company called Asana as the Head Illustrator. But I was doing the same thing over and over again and decided, you know what, I'm gonna go freelance because I love drawing. I just want to draw, and make cool stuff. And you know, get paid for it.
It was very funny because I left in January of 2020. I was working from home, just doing my thing. Then COVID happened, and everyone's working from home. But I was very fortunate in that I have been busy ever since I went freelance.
What’s your illustration style? What inspires your work?
I would say my style is a mix between mid-century children's book illustration and folksy-naive. This probably is a result of my love of mid-century illustration, and the works of Mary Blair, Alexander Girard, Martin and Alice Provensen, Alain Gree, and many others! I studied their work a lot as a youth, and I still love going to Disneyland just to see the "It's a Small World" ride [designed by Mary Blair] in person. Another one of my favorite pastimes is going to bookstores and scouring the vintage children's book section. Honestly, this is going to sound cheesy, but it's springtime right now, and all of the flowers blooming outside really inspire me to draw them, too! I love floral textiles and plants as well.
What made you say yes to this project?
Usually I work on children’s books and toys, packaging, editorial illustrations, and social media illustrations. But I do enjoy new challenges, and I had never done clothing before. So I was very interested in the process and to see my artwork on some shorts or t-shirts. Also, the brand is really fun, and I liked the artist collabs that y'all are doing. The theme felt really appealing, too. I live in California; I grew up in California. I’m all up and down California. Summerlyn described the brief, and I thought, I got this no problem. My work is quite bright and very colorful. I liken that to Cali Vibes. I know Jade Seaside isn’t the brightest, but it’s joyful and fun.
What inspired your design?
The brief was very broad: California vibes, beachy kinds of things and stuff. My original patterns were mostly beach waves, surfing things, very stereotypical California, but I also included some floral patterns, a California Poppy, and even included tacos, but I don’t think that one made the cut. The one that rabbit ended up liking, which I actually really like too, has these big ol’ beach waves. I liked how bold it is, but it also feels like an abstract pattern. [Looking at the design again.] Yeah, I was mostly thinking about surfing treacherous waves up here! But I made these beach waves look a little friendlier. I also wanted to keep the retro vibe going with the retro sun. That's my own personal preference, and it fit. I always love a prompt where I'm given a lot of freedom.
What does Cali Vibes mean to you?
I'm a summer baby. I was born in July. I love long days and short nights. I'm obsessed. I am just like a little flower; I wilt in the winter and spring up in the summer. Not to just make it about the weather, but in California, we're so spoiled. I love doing outdoor stuff. I cycle, go surfing, roller skate. I like to go on walks and hikes and swim. My partner loves the beach, so we go all the time even though it's so cold here still [in April], but we still love it. Other places in the world are just as sunny and have just as temperate, nice weather. But there's just something about here; we have everything at our fingertips. I feel so lucky and grateful.
Cali Vibes is kind of embracing wherever you are and doing everything that you can do. And if you do it with people you love, then great, you know?