Laura Anastasio by Laura Bertinelli
Laura Anastasio is an award-winning Italian illustrator and designer based in Milan, whose unique style often features simple shapes, limited colours and a graphic approach that reflects the essence of a concept.Working primarily in editorial illustration and having designed internationally acclaimed book covers, Laura has been awarded prizes by the Society of Illustrators (Silver Medal), American Illustration, and 3×3 Magazine. Her work has been exhibited worldwide, from Tokyo to New York City.
Laura’s visual language is firmly grounded in graphic design. She studied design and art direction and worked as a graphic designer for several years, before she realised that her true passion was illustration, and that she wanted this to be a prominent part of her work. Her background in design stimulates her to remove all unnecessary details, leaving just the key elements of the concept as the focus of her work. She describes her illustrations as translating, “complex concepts into simple and impactful shapes… basically giant icons”.
We chatted about her journey, from growing up in a creative environment (her parents are a ceramicist and painter), to moving to London to do a short design course at Central Saint Martin’s, followed by her first job in a big media company – where she realised that big corporate environments weren’t the right thing for her. After quitting as a way of taking the plunge into freelance illustration she tells me: “It took me a while to build a trusted network of contacts and to be able to make a living from it, a lot of sacrifices too, but I’m very glad I stubbornly persevered along this path!” Viewing that time and the challenges it brought as a positive learning experience, Laura now recognises that it allowed her to find her creative voice and style.
Since starting her freelance career, Laura has worked with international clients across the globe including, The New York Times and Marie Claire magazine. We discuss the differences she’s experienced when working for Italian versus international clients and the difficulties that creatives encounter in Italy. As she put it, “I wish there was more openness and commitment from Italian clients to educate themselves on how to deal with creative collaborators. Sometimes it’s not even about getting paid on time, but rather about getting paid at all.” She would also like to see, “more talented people of colour, especially women, given the visibility and professional opportunities they deserve.”
We caught up with Laura in between projects to discuss her creative influences, developing her illustrative style, and the changes she’d like to see in the design industry.
How did you first become interested in working as an illustrator?
It was a gradual process. I grew up in my parents’ studio (mom is a ceramicist and dad a painter) surrounded by art and design. This environment has deeply influenced my creativity. I was also the kind of kid who drew non-stop, 24/7. It was just a matter of time until I finally realised that I could turn that passion into my day-to-day job.
Describe your career path of how you got to where you are now.
I studied Graphic Design and Art Direction at IED (Istituto Europeo di Design) in Rome, Italy. During and after graduation I worked for various design studios, but I wasn’t satisfied with the Italian work system, and felt the urge to live abroad. So, I moved to London to attend a short course at Central St Martins and then landed a couple of full-time jobs in digital media companies, only to realise that corporate environments made me feel quite miserable. And that I missed drawing.
As a result, I quit my last job(s) and started freelancing; I began focusing on editorial projects and illustration. That period of time (a very short-on-money period) was extremely important for me, because it helped me find my creative voice. It took me a while to build a network of trusted contacts and to be able to make a living from it, a lot of sacrifices too, but I’m very glad I persevered stubbornly along this path!
How have you developed your visual style throughout your career?
Studying graphic design has helped me understand my visual language. I learnt how to translate complex concepts into simple and impactful shapes. My illustrations are basically giant icons.
Where do you get your inspiration from and how do you approach a new project?
People’s stories and human diversity deeply inspire me. Also, I came to realise the importance of stillness: slowing down makes my creativity proliferate. I like to observe and think, and I’m usually at my creative best when I’m alone.
However, I wouldn’t necessarily consider myself a calm person as I usually approach a new project with a heavy dose of anxiety. Then, I calm myself down and start researching as much as I can about the subject and context of the project I’m going to work on.
“I came to realise the importance of stillness: slowing down makes my creativity proliferate. I like to observe and think, and I’m usually at my creative best when I’m alone.”
Tell us about a standout / favourite project that you’ve worked on and why it’s important to you.
I am particularly fond of Lunario, which is a personal project I started in 2019. It’s a graphic calendar showing all the moon phases and astronomical events of the year. I released the second edition in 2021 and the reaction from the public was absolutely heart-warming. People have told me different stories about how this item has become part of their daily lives. It is really moving to know that they experienced it so deeply. When certain projects have an emotional impact on others, I feel I have succeeded in my work.
“When certain projects have an emotional impact on others, I feel I have succeeded in my work.”
How has being a woman impacted your career?
Graphic design is (surprise!) a very male-dominated industry so I’ve been man-splained quite a lot by men who didn’t even know what my exact role was. Also, on more than one occasion, I was hired precisely because I’m a woman – to make up the numbers, so to speak. Which, although still very much needed (sadly), I find quite discouraging.
Let’s talk about your experience working in Italy as compared with other countries. What do you think makes Italy different in terms of its design industry and how could it be improved?
Italy is really lagging behind in terms of a general appreciation and professional respect for creative and artistic work. This gap becomes blatantly apparent to me every time I have the opportunity to work on international commissions, when I’m always treated with a greater level of professionalism. I wish there was more openness and commitment from Italian clients and that they would learn how to deal with creative collaborators. Sometimes it’s not even about getting paid on time, but rather about getting paid at all.
In your experience, do you think there is equality and diversity across the creative industries today?
There’s been a slight improvement lately, but there’s still a long road ahead. I want to see more talented people of colour, especially women, given the visibility and professional opportunities they deserve. I think we can all agree that we’re quite tired of the white cis straight male-dominated narratives that are perpetuated in almost every workspace.
A lot of people in the creative industries struggle with imposter syndrome and self-doubt. Have you experienced this and how do you deal with it?
Yes, absolutely. I deal with it simply by ignoring it until it’s completely gone. (And then it starts again 👹)
If you could go back to the beginning and start your career again what would tell your younger self?
Spend more time alone in order to develop a stronger inner-self earlier.
Do you have any words of advice for women considering a career in the design industry today?
Speak up, always. People, especially men, will try to belittle and discourage you along the way. (Un)gracefully ignore them and keep doing what you feel is right and suitable for yourself and yourself only. If it pisses them off then you’re probably doing it right :•)
Which female creatives have inspired you most throughout your career?
Kveta Pacovska’s work taught me from a young age that illustration for kids beyond the stereotypical clichés s of cute and naive images can be produced. In my 20’s Bjork taught me a lot about freedom and independence. Then it was the time of Maria Kalman, Charlotte Solomon, Louise Bourgeois, Angela Davis, Toni Morrison, Marjane Satrapi and many more…
Finally, can you recommend three other female creatives currently working in the industry who you find inspiring!
- Crystal Zapata: a designer based in Chicago
- Djana Ejaita: an Italo-Nigerian illustrator
- Rebeka Rácz: a ceramicist from Budapest
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Article by Laura Bertinelli
Laura Bertinelli is one of our DesignbyWomen collaborators who has curated and written a series of features celebrating Italian female designers.
Portrait photo credit: Golkoo Houshmand