{"id":610782,"date":"2026-04-16T13:31:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T13:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/610782\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T13:31:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T13:31:08","slug":"nao-lees-posters-are-digital-terrains-that-hide-small-and-unruly-treasures-for-you-to-find","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/610782\/","title":{"rendered":"Nao Lee\u2019s posters are digital terrains that hide small and unruly treasures for you to find"},"content":{"rendered":"

Often in graphic design, whether consciously or not, we learn to make things match, to keep things uniform enough to look like they all come from a cohesive whole. But Nao Lee (a.k.a undefinedtomato<\/a>) is an expert in overriding this inherited instinct \u2013 she\u2019s the kind of designer that just loves juxtaposition. That might be why she\u2019s so drawn to posters. The format has the magic ability to combine all kinds of \u201ccomplicated narratives into one scene\u201d, the designer tells us. These densely packed compositions that she constructs with layers upon layers of digital noise \u201cenable readers to interpret their meaning from their own perspectives\u201d, Nao explains. \u201cThis sparks open debate and inspiration.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a designer whose compositions are full of adventure and chaos you would think Nao\u2019s design inspiration comes from things that are quite extraordinary, but her influences are actually quite domestic. \u201cI love vernacular,\u201d she says. \u201cMedical toothpaste packaging, document forms, or snack logos are everyday items that hold a hidden impact.\u201d The designer especially loves when the more experimental visual elements of these vernacular design objects are mixed in with more refined typography or illustrations. This balance of pragmatism and play \u201cnarrows the hierarchy between designers and readers\u201d, she says and is something that she likes to take on in her creative approach.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve caught yourself thinking that you can see the outline of maps, or the textures of real terrains in the Seoul-based designers\u2019 work, you\u2019re not far off. Nao\u2019s distinct visual language aims to conjure up \u201ca nostalgic feeling for the past, when people were curious and held a sense of amazement about the land they lived on\u201d, she says. Enchanted by ancient symbols and archaeological sites, the designer\u2018s posters and publications feel as if they are laden with small treasures she\u2019s hidden to unearth: a series of tiny drawings skirting the margin, text in amongst several skins of pattern and texture; the more you look, the more you dig up.<\/p>\n