“Never lose your sense of wonder” - Curated Collective Team Designer Lisa Oxley

 

• The tags evoke a sense of childlike wonder and quiet strength, using soft grayscale portraits contrasted with vibrant rainbow brights.The sentiment “Never lose your sense of wonder” supports the whimsical, dreamlike atmosphere, encouraging curiosity and creativity. The tags feel magical and nostalgic, like pieces from a modern fairytale or a lost childhood dream.

Colour Palette

• Rainbow brights: Layers of warm reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, and cool blues and purples sweep horizontally across each tag.
• The vibrant colours pop dramatically against the monochrome portrait illustrations.
• The addition of sparkling glitter bottles in coordinating colours (pink, turquoise, silver) placed beside the tags reinforces the playful and sparkly vibe.

Focal Imagery

• Tag 1 (Left):
  
• A vintage-style pencil sketch of a young girl stares out with thoughtful eyes.
• She wears a hand-drawn red crown, layered in texture and glitter.
• A mix of book text and film strip imagery add interest and grounding to the bottom.
• Tag 2 (Right):
  
• Another grayscale sketch of a wide-eyed girl with icy blue eyes stares directly at the viewer.
• A soft butterfly lands on her hair—adding gentle surrealism.
• The background shows bold black botanical stencils layered over the rainbow striping.

Techniques & Layers

• Layered backgrounds:
  
• Horizontal brush strokes or gel plate pulls using rainbow acrylics form the base layer.
• Black stencil work (leaves, script) and collage elements (text, film strips, music score) provide depth and contrast.
• Mixed-media touches:
  
• Collage ephemera (labels, tickets, text blocks).
• Glitter accents for dimensional sparkle.
• Scribbled black thread loosely attached to the bottom of Tag 1 for a tactile, whimsical finish.

Typography & Sentiment

• Tag 1 contains a typed quote:
  “Never lose your sense of wonder”
• The message is playful, gentle encouragement—perfectly aligned with the dreamy expressions of the girls.
• The fonts are typewritten, vintage, and add a timeless feel.

Design Tips & Inspiration

• This style could be reinterpreted in a mini album, greeting cards, or even as inspiration for a full art journal spread.
• Using a black-and-white photo or sketch against vivid colour is a great way to direct attention to the face and emotion.
• Don’t be afraid to add unexpected texture—like thread, glitter, or film strip tape—for added narrative layers.