Spotlight on Julie Farrell

This week, the spotlight is on Julie Farrell and business designs from her shops, Paper Robot, Odd Lot Paperie and her eponymous Julie Farrell Urban Art and Illustrations shop.

Julie is a wonderful illustrator and though much of her work is influenced by tattoos and steampunk, she also uses wonderful textures in her designs. Conceptually, her typography is always spot-on and appropriate to the product's end-user. The following are just a small sampling of her amazing business products.

This is a fabulous series of a winged heart in a tattoo-like style. The cropping of the image on the business card is especially effective with the reverse portraying the entire image. A sepia watermarked background image emphasizes the illustration to make a product line that would work for a number of retail establishments or other businesses including an apparel or gift shop or clothing designer.

Tire treads and wood slats lend a rustic background to this business card. The type treatment is simple but eye-catching.

This business card is girly but has an edge to it. The colors have a wonderful shimmer to them and the frame for the business name truly looks like a transparent lens rather than just a ghosted image placed on top of the background. It is very appropriate for a retail shop as well as a salon or spa.

Modern typography blends with funk for a great business card for a DJ or other entertainment industry occupation. The background has an impression of the grid of lights on a DJ board or might suggest the mirror grid on a disco ball. And black is always the way to go.

This line of products for a coffee shop employs an unusual background pattern for a coffee house. Bold and bright vertical rules make the coffee cup image pop and lend a casual, fun air.

This letterhead has a lovely textural feel similar to aged leather and suggests high-end business. This could be used in a variety of consumer service industries including a concierge service, hotel or luxury furniture dealer.

The use of a negative image on this business card is an effective use of photography for a hair salon. Due to constant changes in style, it was a great idea to use photography in this way as it lends a timeless, edgy feel.

This business card makes use of a simple silhouette of a dog against a grungy organic background. The type treatment is simple yet compelling. This card is also available with a variety of dog breeds and could be used by dog walkers, vets, trainers in addition to the pet therapy specialist shown here.

The use of birds is an unusual but eye-catching image for skateboarder, and it invokes the "flying" skateboarders do in their aerial stunts. The bright lime green fits well for an "alternative" career such as a pro skateboarder or even a snowboarder.

This bright red business card uses a fun type treatment and great little illustration. Although small, your eye is drawn straight towards the cat.

Make sure to visit Paper Robot, Odd Lot Paperie and Julie Farrell Urban Art and Illustrations where you'll find wonderful illustrative business products as well as unique invitations and gifts.