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Karen McLean

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Gallery: Italy

September 3, 2016

A small selection of photos from my tour of Italy in back July showing the use of colour and elaborate details in architecture. The photos in this gallery were taken in Florence, Venice, Milan and the Vatican City.

Trend: Hand Lettering

May 23, 2016

Over the last year I have become increasingly aware of the use of hand lettering in graphic design. There are so many styles of hand lettering that any font which is drawn, written, painted or illustrated by hand can fall into this category of typography. Having seen these beautiful and hand crafted fonts being incorporated into design projects I am determined to learn how to do the different styles of hand lettering nicely. So I have set myself the task of teaching myself the basics over the summer and will be constantly updating my progress here on the blog and on my Instagram. There’s only one slight problem – I’m left-handed!

I have tried to learn before but just get increasingly frustrated due to the perfectionist in me wanting to get it right first time. All the tutorials I have previously watched were by calligraphers and designers who were right-handed which is why I struggled to replicate their techniques, that was until just a few weeks ago when I came across the Instagram of Missy Briggs – fellow lefty and hand lettering lover. And let me tell you, her techniques are life changing! I’ve yet to try them due to being so busy with end of year submissions but I’m so in awe of how she does it I can’t wait for the summer holidays so I can try them out for myself.

If you’d like to see more of Missy’s work, why not visit her Instagram here or visit her blog here.

Keep an eye out for updates on my hand lettering project here on the blog.

Karen

 

Hello world!

February 1, 2016

Hello World Image

 

Well here it is, the first post on the Karen Elizabeth Design blog!

A couple of times a month I’ll be posting about my current and recently completed projects, other graphic designers who are inspiring me and graphic design trends that are influencing my work. There may also be the odd post featuring my own photography and anything I come across that inspires me.

Check back soon for some new blog posts.

Karen

  • Earlier on today I got to have a preview of @vadundee and it was simply breathtaking! I can’t wait to visit again and explore it even more
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#vadundee #dundee #museum #djcad #designstudent
  • New year, new studio
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#designstudent #finalyear #graphicdesign #studioview #djcad
  • Symmetry
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#tbt #themet #nyc #newyork #museum #symmetry #architecture #photography #architecturephotography #newyorkphotography #newyorkart
  • 3rd year finished ✅🎉 #graphicdesign #djcad #assessment #designstudent #creative #branding #motiongraphics
  • Pattern making for a current eyewear branding project 👓🕶 #graphicdesign #branding #patterndesign #brandingproject #designstudent #djcad #eyewear #glasses
  • Learnt how to make books today

#books #bookbinding #workshop #design #craft #handmade #designstudent #djcad
  • So this arrived in the mail today and it’s my new favourite book 🎨 #colorindex #colourpalettes #research #graphicdesign #designstudent
  • So the secret is out!
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I can now reveal that @vadundee chose me to design one of the doors of their social media advent calendar 🎄Check out their feed to see what’s behind the door
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My design is based on the classic British Christmas image of a robin in a snowy scene and was created using layers of paper that I cutout by hand and then stuck together to make the final piece 
#vandadundee #christmas #adventcalendar #december #robin #papercut #layeredpaper #designstudent #graphicdesign #djcad

About Us

Alumnus of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design with 5 years experience as an in-house Graphic Designer.

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Copyright 2025 Karen McLean