Taking inspiration from manga, comic books, and his favorite films, UK-based graphic designer Hayden Everitt creates scroll-stopping work (including tutorials and wallpapers) for his ever-growing audience on Instagram.
Read his interview below to learn more about his design process, how he beats creative burnout, and why he considers Stills to be a top resource for designers.
Stills: What is your design process like and how has it evolved?
When I started, it was pure chaos. I would throw every idea I could think of at the wall and see what worked. I’ve never enjoyed being trapped in a certain style or medium, so I’m always looking for a new avenue to explore.
My design process is a lot more structured now, but it still has that little pinch of chaos which makes it exciting for me.
I have clients where it’s completely organized and I work through proper research and development stages with fancy style books and graphic packages. I also have clients who don’t know what they want—they just like my style and want smaller graphic pieces that are more disorganized and casual.
The most fun I have is with my Instagram. Every time I go into making a poster, I already know exactly what I want. My brain comes up with a poster idea, and it’s all I can think about until it’s made, which is great because I love being in the flow of creating.
There are downsides, though—especially after it’s been 8-12 hours and I realize I should probably drink some water and touch some grass. So, I’d say I have a process where structure and disorder work in an odd harmony.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Most of my inspiration comes from reading manga and old comic books. I think there’s such a treasure trove of design in them that isn’t truly appreciated.
The rest of my inspiration comes from Instagram. The whole reason I got into the graphic design industry is because I found @nicknortham’s posters and was instantly inspired. There are so many incredible creative minds and visionaries on that platform. It pushes me to try and be better.
We’re all so different, weird, and wonderful. But Instagram gives every one of us the chance to show our work to the world. It’s impossible not to find it inspiring.
How do you get back in the game when feeling burnt out?
The best way to realign myself is to go outside and meet people. Going to the local pub with some mates or going out and exploring completely recharges me. I wouldn’t be in this position without those around me who force me to go out when I’ve been designing at my desk all day.
Just getting out there, experiencing life more, and taking that pressure off can ensure I return to doing client work feeling refreshed and creatively fulfilled.
Even if they’re not creatives, people can open your mind to new ideas and versatile ways to create content.
What is your “secret weapon” when creating and how did you develop it?
Putting myself and my identity into my work. Everyone is creative, so when I create, I try to put my essence into my work and create things that are truly unique to me.
Whether it’s through my texturing or composition, I try to make things that people look at and say, “Yeah that’s Hayden’s.”
I really enjoy the style I create, but I don’t think it’s something I’ll keep for a long time. So when I do switch things up and try new things, I want to make sure that the visual identity I create is still a part of that.
Just create things that are unique to you and put your identity into your work.
What are some hurdles you had to overcome?
The biggest hurdle I face is myself to be honest. When you’re in a sea of creators it’s difficult to feel as if you bring value to people, especially when my content is somewhat ‘faceless’.
When I started this, I wanted to reach and connect with people, and that’s still true to this day. My biggest fear is not being able to connect with people and just throwing work into the void.
Part of being a creative is knowing you’ll face imposter syndrome and that feeling of inadequacy, it’s something I’m working on and getting better with by the day. The saying that ‘you are your biggest critic’ really is true!
What do you like about Stills? How is it a good resource for designers?
The creative industries can often lack transparency and fair compensation. But the reason Stills caught my attention was that it does the opposite. Ensuring photographers are compensated and recognized is an important cause, especially when using their creative vision and imagery for your projects.
I also love the ability to find photos based on their hex color code, it’s a feature I never knew I needed until I tried it. It really is built with a crazy amount of love and care for the design community.
I’ve been keeping my eye on Stills since its launch last year. It’s now an essential platform for me to find high-quality visuals for my projects.
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Explore a curated Board of Hayden’s favorite imagery—all immediately ready to license for your projects on Stills.
