Designer Profiles Features

BRIGIDA SWANSON
Yardia
@yardia

Aesthetic of the Line? Yardia is a watercolor-driven, Pacific Northwest-inspired line of illustrated cards, art and giftable home goods. The aesthetic is sweet, detailed and botanical in nature, with a mission to help folks express their intersectional identities and love the places they live.

Current Bestseller? The Tree Cheers for your Birthday card fits in perfectly with all the aesthetics of my line. It depicts one of my favorite easy hiking trails in the Cascade Mountains, with evergreen trees surrounding Tipsoo Lake.

Personal Favorite? Any of my chicken- themed designs, because most of them feature my own pet chickens! This birthday card was the first design to feature my original flock of hens: Magnolia, Rhubarb, Esther and Violet.

Surprise Hit? Tea towels! I designed the first of these on a whim during a class I was taking and, to my surprise, they immediately became a huge hit. Folks love the detailed full-color patterns and nature imagery on each towel. The Chickens, Mushrooms and Backyard Birds designs have been the consistent bestsellers of the bunch.

Iconic Selection? My all-time, top-selling card is perhaps the most regionally specific. My I Love You Ferry Much card features two Washington State ferries. Even though it’s incredibly specific to the Seattle and Puget Sound region, the folks who love it are DEVOTED to this card. And I can’t blame them; I have commuted by ferry throughout my life and still get a thrill of delight every time I board one.

Favorite Color? I almost exclusively paint with Daniel Smith watercolors. My favorites are Cascade Green, Cobalt Teal Blue and Iridescent Jade. I love how these pigments interact with other colors and with water on the paper.

Current Design Obsession? Since May, I’ve been completely enchanted and overtaken with designing a botanical tarot deck to launch in the new year. I’ve been so enjoying researching plant symbolism, developing design correspondences for the different suits of the deck and writing intentions to go along with each card. The Plant Companion Tarot will bloom into the world in spring 2025!

Favorite Flower? The broadleaf lupine, a wildflower that grows alongside the hiking trails on Mount Rainier. In floriography, the lupine symbolizes imagination. I love it so much that it’s tattooed on my painting arm!

Favorite Indulgence? I love a cozy hot drink, like a hot chocolate, spiced apple cider or this time of year, a mulled wine.