Art and Clients Series: 3. The One who Really Loves Children, Family & Friend

The first time I received a project offer from her, to be honest, I was a bit skeptical. Why? because I was a bit trauma with some people who gave me projects for certain price but they expected more results and files which in the end did not match with the early agreement. However, I was truly wrong. She turned out to be one of the best clients I've ever work with and truly understanding and not to mention, appreciated my ideas and efforts for her projects.

 

The  first project was that she wanted me to create illustrations for her custom song book for her grandson. She gave me full freedom in doing the illustrations based on the songs she chose to be on the list. It was a great pleasure for me and she was satisfied with the result as well. Then, another projects a few months after that which were similar but for different purposes such as a friend's birthday cards, motivational book for family, etc. I couldn't be grateful enough to her for the work plus the appreciation she'd given me and I was really happy whenever she contacted me for any project she wanted me to do because she would rewarded me handsomely for it. I truly wish her the best in her life.  

 

*the picture above is the example of my work for her. For portfolio purpose only. Any use/copy/share/repost is not allowed. 

Art and Clients Series: 2. The One who like it Customize for Holiday Season

The story went back to 2012 when I won in his contest for custom Xmas family postcard illustration which featured his family and related to the current trend that year - Gangnam style music video.

Since then, he regularly contacted me every year near holiday season to order custom illustration related to any trend happened that year for his family postcard to be printed and sent to all their family, friends and colleagues with a very specific details in his brief of what I should do to come up with the illustration as he would expected. Until one day, it stopped because of a reason.  

 The reason was Covid19, and so he stopped ordering in those years until he finally reached out again for another annual custom card illustration after the pandemic era was over. we still continue working together until last year because I wouldn't know whether he will do so for this year. Nonetheless, I wish him the best. I almost forgot to mention that he also let some of his friends and neighbor to give me their personal projects and I really was grateful for him for it. 

*the picture attached in the post is a part of early concept for one of the illustration I made for him. For portfolio purpose only. Any use/copy/share/repost is not allowed. 

 

 

Art and Clients Series: 1. The One with Unique Imaginations

In more than two decades of my life working in art designing, both in fashion or clothing and graphic or illustration, I've come across so many different challenges and type of clients.

As for now, I would like to share one of my experiences with one certain client who wanted to build his own business in clothing industry with his his own brand back then a few years ago. He was a young man with a lot of unique imaginations which I need to put into illustration or graphic design form for his clothing products. The picture which attached in this post was one of it. He had one original character as the main brand mascot in all of the illustrations I did. There were many other illustrations in which I, as a designer wouldn't think that far for the ideas and inspirations. 

We worked together for 2-3 years producing some designs and he even sent me the sample of his products and a nice appreciation letter. However, we suddenly stopped working when I asked him to give me some times to finish other project with tight deadline before working on his latest idea. Maybe he was also in a rush and couldn't wait for me to do it.

In the end, overall it was a nice experience and I always appreciate what he had done for me in the past and for his trust in using my design service. I wish him the best.   

  

 

Music Cover Illustration from a Missing Client

A few years ago, I had a string of projects from someone who claimed to be a newbie artist/rapper as for the new beginning of his career after he left his old work related to martial art or sport (I forgot which one). 

 

He continuously gave me new order for each song he wrote and recorded. He even gave me the lyric and song to understand better about the specific concept he wanted for it. And so I did as he requested for all the songs with various illustrations. He even started his own channel on one big social media to share his music and also showing those illustrations for each of them. We worked together for almost a year for it and I tried to support him on his channel. Until one day the project came to an end. He said he would contact me one day if he ever need my design service again. He was good as a client and I had no problem working for him that time.

 

Time went by and after around a few years later and many other projects that came after him, I got curious to see how he's doing with his new career and I checked his channel only to see all of his songs had been gone as if those weren't there since the beginning. I googled him by his real name that he'd once mentioned to me but to no avail. I wonder what had happened to him because it seemed like everything related to him were erased. Until now, there was no clear news about him or rather, I found out something but couldn't be confirmed that it was him related to it. Something that definitely would made it understandable as to why he disappeared. Only God knows.

 

The picture I attached in this post was the initial illustration for one of the song in which the final one was way different than this.  

 

Annual Girl's Scout Event in T-shirt Design

I got a special project back then from one girl scout organization from U.S back then a few years ago.  

It was a project with specific brief of how they want it to show to their young members. It supposed to also show the spirit and youth with cheerful vibe and most of all, the relationship with nature as girl scout.

I came up with this idea after reading their brief and they instantly approved within a day after I showed them the concept. The picture in this post was the one their agreed on which showing a little girl scout with her backpack facing the mountain scenery, bird and sunrise with tent. They only want the design with minimal colors used on the t-shirt which was only 3 colors.

In the end, this was one of the most satisfying projects which finished within less than 3 days and the client was happy with it. 

Feel free to contact me for any design or illustration commission/inquiry/project without AI through e-mail: thedreamernoodlemie@gmail.com or DM through Instagram: @noodlemie  

An Unfinished Music Cover Concept for An Abandoned Contest

I got invited into one contest for music cover with quite high price back then a few years ago. They specifically described the elements that should be included in the illustration and I came up with the concept as the picture attached in this post.

It was a rather unfinished contest since the contest holder in the end abandoned the contest without explaining the reason why. I left it unfinished although it crossed my mind several time the urge to finish the concept but still I finally decided just to let it be as it is. 

This kind of things happened a couple of times whether due to the client being busy or lost interest in continuing because they didn't find what they wanted or simply changed their mind about it. Of course the curiosity arose in our mind as people who participated in the contest but we could do nothing about it but only to let it go.

Anyway, in this art business, things happened and not all process are smooth as we want it to. Once again another lesson learned. It may seem like I've been sharing many bad moments in life in several post I've written here in my blog, but believe me, these things were only 20 to max 30 percents compared to the good things that happened in it. Life is never flat and it never will. Because at the end of the day, another day another chance to take and another new door to open.   

 

Mural Design For a Contest that did not finished in time

A few years ago, there was a competition for one famous beverage cola brand to create a mural design based on their commercial advertisement at that time. This mural will be painted directly on a wall in one European country. 

After I've watched the ads over and over again, I came up with this idea. I wanted to combined all the elements from the ads in one picture. Due to contest's short time, I didn't manage to finish coloring the concept in time because apparently it took quite long time to finish this concept. So, in the end, I just submitted the outline without colors to show them thinking who knows they would consider my initial concept as a good one. Unfortunately, my concept was not convincing enough and failed to go through to the next round. 

A couple of months later, in between my free time after finishing some projects, I came across this unfinished concept and then finished it until the concept completed and I kinda wonder what if I finished it on contest time. Anyway, I posted in my social media as my portfolio. Here is the result as on the picture attached. 

Feel free to contact me for any design/ illustration service through e-mail: thedreamernoodlemie@gmail.com or DM me on Insta: @noodlemie 

 

A Tribute for Late Friend in Custom illustration/Design

This would be the last post in the last day of year 2025. A throwback of a heartfelt experience I had back then. 

A couple of years ago, I got an inquiry from someone for a personal custom design/ illustration as a tribute for his late friend.

He specifically described the details that he wanted me to include in the design and he also provided me the references of his late friend in photos. His late friend was a quite young man, a gym enthusiast and a happy friendly person with so much energy and spirit to dedicate, live and share his life for his loved ones, his friends and his work. Not to mention, his healthy life style that he tried to maintain until one day he suddenly passed away.

The client didn't disclose further why he passed away and I didn't want to ask since it was a private matter. He wanted him to be remembered as the best person he was and that gave me the motivation to do the best I could at that time.

So, this was the illustration I did for him with some details such as wording small front part design were left out here to emphasize the person and the background only for this blog post. He was satisfied and thankful for the result. He will print it on t-shirts that will be worn on his late friend's memorial day with the rest of friends and family.  In the end, we all wanted to be remembered and loved by people around us. 

For portfolio purpose only. Any use/copy/share/re-post is not allowed. Feel free to contact me for any illustration/design service through e-mail: the dreamernoodlemie@gmail.com or DM on Insta @ noodlemie.  
 

A 'Funny' Story about Illustration Project for Book Cover and Pages

I had this 'funny' experience when I got this illustration order for book cover and pages from someone back then. They wanted me to draw for them based on their mixed references for each illustration in detail request but with inadequate payment. They said it was because they are amateur and young who needed more support for this. It is about their fantasy adventure story anyway that they're trying to sell to people. I agreed on term of providing only one type of final file for them and no other.

Long story short, I did it all as their request with some back and forth revisions which I did professionally in short amount of time. Once all are agreed upon for final, they even told me that I won't be credited in those illustrations. I didn't care anymore that time since I just want it to finish sooner. I politely told them just do whatever they want with it. No word of gratitude from them, nothing, just simply done and finished. 

The funny thing I mentioned earlier is, a few months later they contacted me again and asked for new and bigger file and also another different type of files for free. They said they needed for their promotion since the reaction to their book was quite good. I just ignored it and never bothered to reply because the audacity to even ask was beyond me to comprehend. I just considered this as a valuable lesson for next time that I should not let my kind thought of helping people got in the way in doing my work professionally and being appreciated properly for it. 

 

The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026) - One of the Most Anticipated Movie Next Year

This sequel movie is one of the highly anticipated upcoming movie that I would not want to miss out since I truly loved the prequel or the original movie.

Just a bit insight from the first movie; the story revolved around a newly graduated college girl who used to work as a reporter but then got accepted in one famous fashion magazine with such a tyrannical lady boss. Her work is one of the dream job of many girls her age. She had a hard time adjusting, adapting and struggling to fit into the work requirements and when she finally did it, she drowned in it only to lose herself in the process. Nonetheless, she was so dedicated and without her knowing, her boss actually satisfied with her work. In the end, she had enough after she started losing her time, moments, family, friends in her life for her work and chose to quit.

I wonder what it has to offer in the 2nd movie a few months ahead after 20 years of the first movie. I'm seriously curious and since the first movie inspired me and made me rather connected to my work at that time somehow in fashion world. I like the actors, I have high hope for the 2nd movie to be as good as the prequel seeing that the original casts would play in it and the promising teaser trailer which has been released a few weeks ago. 

From A-Z Manual Clothing and fashion Design and Product Catalogue

This photo that I included in this post was what I did for work throughout the first decade of my career in this design field both fashion and graphic. I used to work by designing the model for clothing manually and then also changed it into digital form by computer and after the products are ready I also needed to create the full catalogue for customers of the company I worked for it. Not to mention, I had to find the proper fabric and colors, everything almost from a-z of this company's product process.

 

 Other than that, after I resigned and decided to work as a freelancer, I took several order for baby clothing catalogue, printing design for fabric and also some clothing product for different companies and some custom illustration order up until now.

 

Feel free to contact me through e-mail: thedreamernoodlemie@gmail.com for any design service.
 

All about Cat's demeanor in Different Illustration or Graphic Design For Apparel Products

This was one of my initial concept for a custom project with several tasks to do cat's demeanor in illustration for their apparel/ clothing products. The final design was different than this but still share the same theme along with other illustration to depict cat in different ideas and concepts.

 They gave me detail instructions for each illustration but gave me the freedom to interpret it into the illustration itself. I can't disclose everything related to it but it was certainly fun and something that I would proud of as part of my portfolios. 

This concept depicted a cat in its daily naughty habit which love to touch, break, drop anything on the table just to annoy us. They're proud and seemed to know that no matter what they do, there will not be any consequence for them because we're simply their 'slaves' and obey them as our master. 

So, if any of you are interested in something like this or any other custom illustration, feel free to contact me through e-mail: thedreamernoodlemie@gmail.com or DM on Instagram: noodlemie. 

 

An Idea for Game's Character Concept

A few years ago, I participated in a competition to create new game characters and I came up with this illustration concept based on their brief. However, maybe mine was not suitable enough for them and I lost in it. I took it as another experience to learn and a stepping stone to another chapter in life. I was glad that I took the chance anyway and tried to sharpen my skill for it.

Feel free to contact me for any design or illustration service through e-mail: thedreamernoodlemie@gmail.com or DM on my insta: @noodlemie 

Sticker collection for Supplement Product

 A few years ago, I got an order to do a set of sticker collection for one supplement company. They wanted to be specific in each sticker with details and such, related to nature, animals and disasters. The underlying meaning was to show that we can overcome all of it with our strength by the power of nature itself. This was only one example out of 10 designs/ illustration for the sticker in different custom cutout shapes. 

Feel free to contact me for any hand made digital design service with original creativity and without AI through my e-mail : thedreamernoodlemie@gmail.com or my Instagram DM: @noodlemie

Another Design Idea Was Copied Just Like That

This was another lesson learned for me back then a few years ago. Someone offered me a design project but it turned out to be an empty project offer in the end after they ghosted me. They without at least feeling guilty then invited me to their design contest. I was a very positive thinker back then to even join it thinking that they perhaps wouldn't do something bad again. 

However, my expectation was too high on them. I submitted my design as below just to be copied by other designer in that contest as per their request after I withdrawn from it due to thinking this contest wasn't worth my time and no respond at all from them. I found out later on when they decided the winner after a while that my design has been used by other after they 'tweaked' it a little. 

No apology, no remorse, nothing. The funny thing was, they tried to invite me to another project and contest again after that and I completely ignored them. Luckily, this type of people were only the minority compared to other good clients who used my design and illustration service. 

#noodlemie #art #graphicdesign #designer #illustration #typography #ballet #graphic #design #digitalart #dance #concept

Kpop Demon Hunters Unique Costumes

  After I watched this movie back then, somehow I couldn't help but notice that the characters' outfits or costumes were pretty interesting. Especially for Huntrix. I like Rumi's leather-like yellow jacket which complimented by the short pants and white shirt. The embroidered and stitched color combination details in it was good. The other characters also wore a nice combination which would be a perfect match with harmonious color tones.  

 

Another costumes also looking luxurious with shiny gold details on black and white colors. As for daily wears, with just hoodie, loose t-shirt, floral jacket, hats and pants were also look casual on them.  

 

As for the Saja boys, somehow the costumes were softer and girlish with more pink tones and light and brighter colors for either daily costumes or while performing in front of the audiences.

 

The pictures are solely for references only and not mine but belong to the rightful owner of this movie. I only draw the fan art. 

 

 

From Sketch to Digital Drawing for a School Task

One day, a few years ago, I got a special request from a dad. He wanted me to make digital drawing versions of his daughter's 2 sketches. And so I did and these were the results.

He told me that these were for her school task which she would presented in front of her classmates. He was so happy after seeing the results and he said he can't wait to show it to her. 

These were actually truly fun and special for me, especially the part of helping a dad to make his daughter happy and helped her in anyway he can.   

Feel free to contact me for any special commission or project of any custom illustration you need through my e-mail: thedreamernoodlemie@gmail.com 

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS illustration concept

Mental health awareness themed illustration. 

This was an initial concept for an illustration related to mental health (depression, anxiety, heartbroken and imprisoned in our own mind). I was thinking what would it look like, and then, this idea showed up in my mind. They said it should have been much simpler but I thought it was all about taste and preference.

Feel free to contact me for any illustration project through my email: thedreamernoodlemie@gmail.com 

Any use/copy/share/repost is not allowed. Full video in my instagram: noodlemie 

SQUID GAME 3: CONCLUSION

I know this is far late for an opinion about this series, however, I think I still need to write it down anyway. What can I say? To be honest I just read the review and short explanation of each episodes without watching it. 

Since I also dropped it at season 2 after a few episodes. I knew it when I watched the beginning of season 2, it won't be as great as the original season 1. The new characters somehow were not memorable enough, the main character stayed stupid, the police guy stayed naive, all other things were pretty much similar to previous season but maybe only the games were different. With all that mentioned above, which meant, element of surprise was close to nothing. 

The villain stayed the smartest of them all. And I could predicted that season 2 and 3 were only continuation to each other and not a whole new season of their own. The mission to let the world know of traditional Korean games is succeeded but the whole point of story did not inspire people of goodness, but only showing the bad still win although there might be a little hope. 

I think in the end, my expectation is not to see the villain win, why? In real world there are already too much of it. At least in fiction we can count on the good guy but my wish was not come true in this one. Based on reality? Yes, almost all of it and too much. Therefore, if you look for a warmhearted entertainment? I don't think it is worth your time. 

The point which related to fashion is maybe about the uniform of the contestants in the drama and also the notable pink soldiers. Other than that, I don't see anything worth to notice. 

Book Cover design Concepts - Between illustration or Photo editing

These were a throwback of some of my book cover concepts throughout the years for different purposes and themes.

Most of them were illustrations and the rest were mixed of photo editing. However, no matter how good I did it or put the best effort on it, in the end, it was all based on the client's taste. 

Feel free to contact me for any illustration project because I prefer illustration for its originality and creativity over photo editing.

e-mail: thedreamernoodlemie@gmail.com