Featured Artists: Concept To Design And Threading With Intention

Dearest Artist,

This month, we’re honoring the threads that bind us—literally and figuratively. As we explore the world of Sustainable Design, we’re spotlighting artists who stitch meaning into every fiber, reimagine tradition through innovation, and let softness speak with strength.

Textile and fiber-based art is having a moment—and rightfully so. From handwoven narratives to sculptural forms shaped by memory, these works prove that sustainable design isn’t just about materials—it’s about intention, identity, and the human touch.

May these artists inspire you to mend, weave, and build with care.

Warmly,

Jenn Hart

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Here are a few artists from my hometown, Las Vegas, and my new home in the greater Philadelphia area that my team and I are currently crushing on. Their tactile approach to art—woven, stitched, sculpted, and sewn—celebrates texture, material, and meaning in all the right ways. From soft sculptures to wearable stories, their work threads beauty into every detail.

Philadelphia Creatives

@juiceboxworkshop - This artist uses repurposed textiles to create both wearable art and impressionistic landscapes.

@kleibrand - Kate Leibrand is known for her large-scale, repetitious patterns in her textile artwork.

@Hollyguertinart - Holly Guertin creates sculptural and textural wool/felt soft sculptures, often exploring the theme of "entwined".

Las Vegas Creatives

@iwouldratherknot - Macramé & fiber art in Vegas

@melissamillercurley - Melissa Miller Curley is a textile artist, quilt maker, sewing instructor based in Las Vegas.

@knottybutnicelv - Vibrant, handmade fiber art in Las Vegas

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Everything we share here is meant to be helpful and inspiring. We’re speaking from experience. Please consult a qualified professional to help make decisions. You are responsible for how you choose to use this information, and we are not liable for any loss, damages, or issues that may arise. We can’t be responsible for how things play out, but we’re always rooting for your success!

Credits

Author: Hannah Heine

Editor: Jenn Hart (More About Me)

Associate Editor: Sarah Dawoud

Art: Sharon Bakas

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Design For Good: The Fine Line Between Persuasion And Manipulation

Good Design Persuades. Bad Design Manipulates.

Let’s get one thing straight: design is powerful. Like, hypnotist-in-a-velvet-blazer powerful. But with that power comes responsibility. And somewhere between "Buy now, your cart is crying" and "You must accept cookies to breathe" lies the blurry, bloated line between ethical persuasion and straight-up trickery.

We’re digging into the ethical gray areas of design—the tactics that toe the line (or steamroll over it), and how creatives like us can stay persuasive without selling our souls to the dark side. Let's learn how to design for good!

Let’s Talk About Dark Patterns (AKA UX’s Villain Origin Story)

Dark patterns are sneaky design choices that nudge users toward actions they might not take if they weren’t being Jedi-mind-tricked. Think: hidden unsubscribe buttons, pre-checked add-ons, or that one button that’s bright red unless you’re saying "no," in which case it's the color of fog.

The problem isn’t just the trickery. It’s the erosion of trust. When users feel manipulated, they remember and they bounce.

Example Offender: "Oops! We almost forgot to apply your discount!"

Translation: "We added a fake problem to make ourselves look helpful."

Quick Gut Check: If your design choice only works when someone isn’t fully paying attention, it probably belongs in the Dark Arts category.

Urgency Tactics: Scarcity Or Scare Tactics?

Limited-time offers. Flash sales. Countdown clocks. Used well, urgency can be a helpful nudge. Used poorly, it’s psychological warfare with a drop shadow.

Creating actual scarcity? Cool. Faking it with a “3 people are viewing this” pop-up that resets every time? Not cool.

Pro Tip: If your urgency tactics create stress rather than clarity, it’s time to redesign.

Visual Hierarchy Trickery: When Good Design Goes Bad

We all know how to lead the eye: use contrast, scale, white space. But let’s talk about the shady side. Like burying the "cancel" link in 8pt gray-on-white type, or making the "accept all" button look like a neon dance party while "manage settings" is in witness protection.

When visual hierarchy is used to manipulate instead of guide, users notice, even if they can’t name it. And that subtle discomfort? That’s your conversion rate quietly leaking out the back door.

So, What Does Ethical Persuasion Look Like?

Ethical persuasion respects your audience. It says, "Hey, we think this is a good idea, and here’s why," not "You’ll regret this for the rest of your life if you don’t click."

• Use urgency that’s real. Have a deadline? Say it. Don’t fake a frenzy.

• Use visual hierarchy to clarify choices, not hide them.

• Use microcopy to build trust: be clear, be kind, be human.

Transparency isn’t just ethical, it’s strategic. It builds long-term loyalty, better engagement, and fewer angry tweets with screenshots.

The Design Prompt: Temptation Vs. Integrity

Your challenge is to reimagine a traditionally manipulative UX moment as an ethical, transparent experience.

Pick one:

• The email unsubscribe flow

• The cookie consent banner

• The limited-time sale promo

Redesign it to be:

• Honest, but still persuasive

• Clear, not confusing

• Respectful of the user's brain and bandwidth

We’re Not Saints, But We’re Not Scammy Either

Design has the power to influence and that’s exactly why it matters how we use it. You don’t have to neuter your creativity to stay ethical. You just have to use your powers for good.

Now go forth, fellow wizard. Make magic, the honest kind.

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Everything we share here is meant to be helpful and inspiring. We’re speaking from experience. Please consult a qualified professional to help make decisions. You are responsible for how you choose to use this information, and we are not liable for any loss, damages, or issues that may arise. We can’t be responsible for how things play out, but we’re always rooting for your success!

Credits

Author: Hannah Heine

Editor: Jenn Hart (More About Me)

Associate Editor: Sarah Dawoud

Art: Sharon Bakas

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Blink And You’ll Miss It: How To Keep Up With Design Tech Without Losing Your Mind

Mastering Design Tech The Easy Way

AR. AI. Motion design. The alphabet soup of emerging tech is coming for your creative process. Here’s how to stay ahead, not overwhelmed.

Welcome to the golden age of "wait, that’s possible now?!" in design. One minute you're mocking up brand boards, the next you’re being asked if your logo can dance across a screen, show up in AR, and maybe write its own captions, too. Sound familiar?

Whether you’re a freelancer juggling fifteen tabs or a studio owner pretending your Monday coffee is enough to fight off tech FOMO, we’re here to help. You don’t have to be a tech wizard to harness the latest design tools, you just need a strategy.

Why Designers Shouldn’t Sleep On Emerging Tech

Spoiler alert: It’s not just hype. These tools are changing the game:

• AI-generated design speeds up workflows, enhances ideation, and helps you present options faster than you can say "concept round three."

• Motion graphics are dominating social media, adding movement to static brands and giving your visuals a glow-up.

• Augmented reality (AR) is turning packaging, murals, and installations into interactive experiences that quite literally jump off the page.

  
  

The kicker? You don’t need to become a developer to tap into any of this. You just need to know where and how to plug in.

Start With Strategy, Not Shiny Objects

Tech is fun, yes. But without strategy, it’s just digital glitter.

At Hart House, we believe in intention before implementation. That means asking:

• Does this tool support the brand’s story?

• Will it enhance the audience experience?

• Is it sustainable for the client or team to maintain?

  
  

Don’t just use AR because your competitor did. Use it because it creates a richer brand moment, like an animated label that reveals the origin story of your ingredients or an art mural that becomes a digital gallery.

Tools We’re Crushing On (That You Can Use Today):

• Runway ML for AI-powered video and image generation (hello, content expansion without extra shoots)

• Spline for no-code 3D web design and product visualization

• After Effects templates to add scroll-stopping motion to social and web without building from scratch

• Adobe Aero for beginner-friendly AR design

  
  

Even using AI tools like ChatGPT to help storyboard or brainstorm faster is a win. The key is to treat these tools like teammates—not replacements. You’re still the creative genius. They’re just here to keep your caffeine budget in check.

How To Stay In The Know Without Going Insane

• Pick one rabbit hole at a time. Learn one new tool or trend per quarter, max.

• Follow smart people. Not influencers—actual practitioners. (Need a list? We got you. Scroll to the end of the article.)

• Use your projects as playgrounds. Got a low-lift client piece? Try motion graphics. Rebranding your portfolio? Add AR overlays.

• Bookmark your brain. Keep a Notion or Google doc with tools, links, and inspo. Future you will thank you.

  
  

Don’t Forget The Human Touch

We love a tech stack as much as the next studio, but your taste, your voice, your gut instincts? Still the secret sauce.

Tech doesn’t replace creativity—it amplifies it. Use these tools to make your ideas more vivid, more immersive, more YOU.

Put Money In Your Pocket & Good In The World

 If you’re offering motion or AR design, productize it. Don’t just include it in your proposals—make it a line item. A branded AR filter, a looping social teaser, or a motion logo suite are all services people are willing to pay extra for.

Your move? Charge what you're worth and show your clients the ROI.

Follow These Smart People (Not Just Influencers)

• Jesse Damiani @JesseDamiani – Writer and curator focused on AR, VR, and immersive media—super plugged into the future of creative tech.

• Sarah Tan @sarahtannn – UX/UI designer with a strong focus on AR/VR; named a Global Top 100 Woman in Tech

• Refik Anadol @refikanadol – AI-driven data artist working at the intersection of art, architecture, and tech.

• Emonee LaRussa @em0n33y – 2× Emmy-winning motion graphics artist; blends storytelling with big-screen motion.

• Joshua Davis @praystation – Generative art pioneer known for algorithmic design and motion graphics.

• Georgie Yana @georgieyanadesign – Motion graphics creative behind bold, vibrant narratives and interactive visuals.

• DesignStripe @designstripeapp – Creative tool that shares digestible AI-in-design tips and use cases.

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Everything we share here is meant to be helpful and inspiring. We’re speaking from experience. Please consult a qualified professional to help make decisions. You are responsible for how you choose to use this information, and we are not liable for any loss, damages, or issues that may arise. We can’t be responsible for how things play out, but we’re always rooting for your success!

Credits

Author: Hannah Heine

Editor: Jenn Hart (More About Me)

Associate Editor: Sarah Dawoud

Art: Sharon Bakas

---

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Subscribe to The Squeeze on our little piece of the internet to get design promotions, resources, stories about other creatives, and inspiration for your eyeballs and brainstorms.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Keep creating Hartists! Follow @harthousecreative on Instagram and Linkedin.