Playful by Design

Creativity doesn’t always have to follow the rules. Sometimes it starts with a creature that seems to take on a life of its own, an unexpected detail hidden in a drawing, or a functional object reimagined with a little more personality. For these four makers, playfulness is more than an aesthetic, it’s part of the process. Through hand-built ceramics, thoughtfully designed accessories, geometric forms, and whimsical illustrations, they find ways to bring curiosity, humor, and a sense of discovery into everyday life.

You can find these artists and many more at the One of a Kind Holiday Show, December 3 – 6!

Gurnee-based ceramic artist Annie Lichter hand builds bright, colorful creatures full of personality. A graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she works intuitively through coiling, pinching and slab building, letting each monster take shape as she goes.

Tell us about your creative process.

Annie: I use hand-building techniques like coil, pinch, and slab to create my pieces. I don’t usually sketch anything out beforehand. I like to just start with a shape and add features as needed, then see where the piece goes — almost like the monster builds itself!

What inspires you to create these characters?

Annie: I love creating things that are a little silly and whimsical. I want my work to remind people of being a kid and to encourage them to embrace their imagination. I think there’s something really special about making something that can bring a smile to someone’s face.

What makes your work unique?

Annie: Each piece has its own personality, and I never know exactly how it’s going to turn out when I start. I also include an adoption certificate with my monsters, so each one can find its own home!

Founded by Los Angeles designer Shinyoung Park, MISENVER creates women’s bags and accessories that pair playful, distinctive design with everyday function. Each piece is made with thoughtfully sourced materials like Italian leather, recycled chains and even fish leather made from upcycled sushi restaurant skins.

Tell us about your brand.

Shinyoung: MISENVER is inspired by two words, Mischievous (MIS) and Versatile (VER). My designs are created to be fun, functional and versatile, bringing a little playfulness into everyday life. I want each design to have its own personality and bring a little joy to the person carrying or wearing it.

How do you approach materials?

Shinyoung: I prioritize responsible choices and look for partners with recognized sustainability certifications. I use leathers from certified Italian tanneries and fish leather made in France from fish skins recovered from sushi restaurants in Lyon, giving discarded materials a second life. As a small business, I personally oversee every step, from sourcing to photography.

What has shaped your creative identity?

Shinyoung: I studied fashion design in Korea, interned at a designer boutique in Paris and later worked as a clothing designer in Los Angeles. Being exposed to the different cultures and approaches to design in each city broadened my perspective. And some of my ideas come at the most unexpected times, even during church! I’ll quickly jot them down before getting back to the sermon.

Jennifer Hauser’s whimsical ink and colored pencil drawings invite viewers to slow down and look a little closer. Working on masonite, she builds detailed compositions filled with funny, unexpected elements. Her process is intuitive, she lets her imagination take over then fills the space with the small details that give each drawing its personality.

Tell us about your creative process.

Jennifer: I usually start with a basic framework for the drawing and then fill in the details as I go. I don’t plan every little thing ahead of time. Some of my favorite parts are the small details that emerge along the way.

What keeps you creating?

Jennifer: There is a running dialogue in my head of funny thoughts that make me look forward to the next piece.

What makes your work unique?

Jennifer: I work with ink and colored pencil on masonite, which is a little different from the paper most people associate with drawing. I enjoy building up the details and adding unexpected elements that people might not notice at first glance. I like the idea that someone can look at a piece more than once and discover something new.

Lauren Owens reimagines familiar home objects through joyful color, geometric forms, and clean, contemporary lines. Blending precision with a playful eye, she turns everyday essentials into pieces that feel bright, modern and full of personality.

Tell us about your creative process.

Lauren: I start with turned plaster forms and found objects, then build intricate molds and cast them using my own blended colored clay body. I love the repetition of form, with clean lines and crisp angles, and each slipcast design is handcrafted in small runs.

What makes your work unique?

Lauren: My parents are both accountants, so growing up, you had better come home with good grades in math. When I was younger, it never occurred to me that I could use that foundation to further my geometric designs in ceramics. Now I love having the opportunity to create a new viewpoint on classic home items.

What sparks a new design?

Lauren: Every so often, a customer, friend or family member will say, ​“I wish I had a well-designed (fill in the blank).” That gets my brain churning on how to make that functional object work and be beautiful. Fun fact: I’ve loved pretty rocks since I was a kid collecting them from our driveway, and now I get to play with dirt every day!