Drago Design, Charleston, SC (2026)

I love seeing small companies grow in their brand and large companies carrying their brand from various outputs on a large platform while staying consistent. Freelance graphic designer specialized in all areas of graphic design; highest specialization being in editorial design.

09/08/2026

This all started from a morning conversation I had with the Holy Spirit, where He encouraged me with the words, “Look up, Buttercup.” 🌼

The phrase stuck with me, and I began researching and drawing buttercup flowers. That eventually turned into a delicate, uplifting illustration.

But then I started thinking about how I could stretch myself creatively. What would happen if I took the same illustrated flowers and core color palette and approached the idea from an entirely different perspective?

That challenge turned into a second illustration—this time much bolder, deeper, and more whimsical.

Both pieces began with the same phrase and share many of the same design elements, but through changes in color, typography, and composition, they ended up with completely different personalities.

I love seeing how one little idea can grow in more than one direction. 🦋

Which design do you like best—1 or 2?

Want to read the prophetic word behind this artwork? Comment “Look up” and I’ll send you the link.

07/20/2026

As a designer, feedback and critique are a part of everyday life. Lately, my goal has been simple: bring the flavor, not the burn. 🧂✨

It’s a little reminder to add value, bring fresh perspectives, and spread kindness throughout daily conversations. Tearing things down only creates walls, but thoughtful feedback builds bridges—in work and in everyday life

Here’s a fun exercise I worked on over the weekend playing around with this idea using soft tones, organic shapes, and a quirky font called “Catch Feels” by Paperly Studio. (If you haven’t already, check out Creative Market for some amazing fonts!)

How do you like to keep things constructive and spread kindness in your day-to-day? Let me know in the comments! 👇

06/01/2026

Are we looking at AI through rose-colored glasses? 🌹👓

AI can provide a great baseline image, but it takes a designer's eye and technical toolkit to transform it into a polished, professional illustration. For this typographic illustration, I wanted to explore that exact balance between automated tools and manual ex*****on.

Swipe to see my process for this typographic illustration! 👉

1. Refining the Base Image: The original AI asset had a strange, scale-like texture and blotchy background. I used Photoshop’s smudge, blur, clone stamp, and selection brush tools for Generative AI to clean up the digital artifacts and create a smooth, painted finish.

2. Typographic Layout & Color: Inspired by lettering from Vector_iland, I built a custom typographic layout designed to sit beautifully above the glasses, locking the two elements into a single cohesive image. I pulled the composition together using a palette of warm pinks and purples, with beige as a baseline color for a harmonious typographic illustration.

AI is incredible for exploration, but the magic still happens in the human refinement, typography choices, and technical ex*****on.

What tools are you currently utilizing to blend AI into your design workflow? Comment below👇 and follow for more inspiration and design breakdowns!

04/15/2026

Every element in design should be intentional.

I designed this editorial piece with that in mind—bringing together symbols that are scripturally significant, while also reflecting the gentleness that Jesus walked in.

That’s where the delicate script and softer tones come in.

I didn’t just want this to be visually interesting—I wanted it to carry weight and to feel meaningful.

Because it is.

I’m keeping this space design focused, but if you’re interested in faith-based content and want to read the full writing behind this piece, comment “BLOG” and I’ll DM you the link 📥

04/12/2026

I love the challenge of putting imagery to Scripture. For this piece, I translated ancient symbols into a modern editorial aesthetic.

I used an olive branch pattern as a visual for the Mount of Olives, grounding the shofar to a significant location in Scripture. I also chose the delicate Salty Feathers script by Sans & Sons (via ) to balance the visual weight of the illustrated shofar in the forefront.

This piece was designed in Adobe Illustrator using hand-rendered illustrations. It was created for a new feature on my blog. I’m keeping this feed focused on the design craft, but I’d love to share the writing with you if you’re interested in faith-based content.

Put BLOG in the comments and I’ll DM you the link to the full piece! 📥

Address

Charleston, SC

Website

https://www.behance.net/leighannemarquis, https://heavensideasco.etsy.com/

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