Friday Folks – Pilgrim Lee

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Pilgrim Lee's home studio

In this Friday Folks post we introduce Pilgrim Lee (aka Draw! Pilgrim). We’ve admired Pilgrim’s work for a long while – she shares our love of bold, bright colours and design from the 60s & 70s. She’s a very busy lady – blogger, designer, maker, seller, traveller, mother… where does she find the time?!

Pilgrim Lee self portrait

Who are you & what do you do?
I’m Pilgrim Lee, owner of Draw! Pilgrim and I’m a graphic designer and illustrator from Melbourne, Australia.

framed alphabet illustration by Pilgrim Lee

How did you get into the business?
While I was in high school I worked for my mum’s graphic design business. Following high school and a couple of years abroad I studied visual communication and shortly after, I started Draw! Pilgrim as a home-based business while I cared for my baby son.

framed letter 'C' by Pilgrim Leeframed letter 'J' by Pilgrim Lee
framed letter 'Z' by Pilgrim Leeframed letter 'M' by Pilgrim Lee

Who or what inspires you?
All kinds of things inspire me, but most of those things are colorful, wild design from the 60s and 70s: Verner Panton, Hans Edelman, Milton Glaser etc.

framed 'Nature Patchwork' illustration by Pilgrim Lee

What has been your greatest success?
I’m very proud of how my business has grown over the last couple of years, and I would never have believed some of the great publicity I’ve received in that time: inclusion in the Print & Pattern 2 book, magazine and newspaper features, and coverage on some really huge blogs!

framed "Web Ahoy" illustration by Pilgrim Lee

Have you got any advice for someone wanting to break into the business?
Be well prepared. Consider your various strategies and policies. Move at a pace you are comfortable with – even if it’s slower than you think it should be. Being comfortable to take each next step is a guarantee of your work being good quality. Be confident! You can do it!