And a lobster with a story

Every now and then, a piece of artwork surprises me by carrying more meaning than I expected.

I was thrilled to learn that my My Lobster baby shower invitation was selected as another Minted Editor’s Pick, but what made it especially meaningful was realizing where the idea came from and how far back that inspiration reaches.

The invitation features a hand drawn lobster, simple and graphic, with a slightly vintage feel. At first glance, it feels playful and unexpected for a baby shower. But for me, it is deeply tied to memory.

Oddly enough, I have only been to a handful of baby showers in my life. The one that stands out most is my aunt’s baby shower, which I attended when I was eight years old. At the time, I probably did not realize how much I was absorbing. But years later, that memory resurfaced in the most unexpected way.

My uncle was a professional lobsterman, fishing for lobsters off the coast of Massachusetts. Much of my childhood was spent visiting my grandparents along the coast, surrounded by the rhythms of the ocean, working harbors, and the quiet familiarity of New England coastal life. Lobsters were not decorative or novelty items to us. They were simply part of the landscape.

When I drew this lobster, it was not about following a trend or creating something overtly themed. It was about capturing a feeling. Something classic, a little nostalgic, and rooted in a place and time that still feels comforting.

That is often how my ideas begin. Not from a checklist or a brief, but from a memory that has been quietly waiting for the right moment to resurface.

Seeing My Lobster recognized by Minted feels special because it reinforces what I believe about meaningful design. The pieces that resonate most often come from personal stories, even when they are subtle. Even when the viewer does not know the full backstory.

Now, I’ve got 2 weeks to turn around the final files. I better get to it!