Journal · Design notes
The Sketch Behind Mountain Sunset
Three ridgelines, one low sun, and a river that took eleven tries. How the collection's illustration came together.
By Mika ·
Every design I love starts as something I almost threw away. Mountain Sunset was a margin doodle: three layered ridges and a circle sitting a little too low. I kept coming back to it.
Finding the shapes
The ridgelines came easily. The river did not. It took eleven versions to find a curve that led your eye into the valley without stealing attention from the sun. The final one is barely more than a single ribbon of cream.
I kept the shapes bold on purpose. A design that lives on everyday objects has to read from across a room, not just up close.
Choosing the colors
The palette is the one I keep returning to: a warm orange for the sun, charcoal for the mountains, and cream for the light in between. It is the color of the last twenty minutes before the sun drops behind a ridge — my favorite part of any drive.
The collection starts with a mug, because that's where my mornings start. More pieces are in the works.
