Greg Darrol of Durban-based design studio Toyko Go Go recently unveiled a few bouncy, chipper character designs on his Behance page, collectively titled, 'City Slickers.'
From sulking skulls to overflowing pick-up trucks, the illustrator demonstrates a keen talent for punchy pop illustrations that could go just as well on a T-shirt or pair of sneakers as within a frame.
Darrol's work is very much in the recent style of rendering often macabre or subversive imagery, such as skeletons, in a light-hearted manner. The designs are bustling without being busy. Lines swirl and smash into each other to produce whimsical, cartoonish characters. Colors contrast and melt into one another for a decidedly psychedelic effect. These aspects give the work a fun, kinetic feel that draws the viewer in.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Pop Illustrations
- Designing illustrations in a lighthearted manner can be an opportunity for brands to showcase their products creatively.
- Whimsical Characters
- Creating whimsical cartoonish characters can be an opportunity for animators to come up with unique and unforgettable characters for TV series, movies and video-production projects.
- Psychedelic Art
- Experimenting with contrasting and melting colors to produce a psychedelic effect can be an opportunity to create unique designs for clothing brands and to sell psychedelic-themed merchandise.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Fashion Industry
- Incorporating pop illustrations into fashion merchandise design can help clothing brands create unique and appealable items to a younger audience.
- Animation Industry
- Whimsical characters can be used in TV series, movies and other video-production projects to capture the attention of younger audiences.
- Art and Design Industry
- Psychedelic art can be used as inspiration for art prints, wall decor, and other art production projects that target young adults and serve as great conversation-starters.
