Exploring Abi Overland’s elegant and intricate design collection

Abi Overland shares subtle styling tips through her elegant Instagram feed.

About a week ago I was sitting in a bar with a few friends and conversation turned to the subject of social media. One of my friends is a recent design graduate, currently in the throes of launching her own jewellery business. Aiming to curate an Instagram feed to reflect her brand, she asked for suggestions on who to follow. Abi Overland sprang to mind immediately.

Abi runs her own homeware brand selling intensely illustrated fine china dinnerware as well as prints, candles and coasters. She launched her business in 2015, soon after graduating from the University of Brighton with a degree in illustration. Combining her intricately detailed illustration style with elegant design details, Abi creates sophisticated statement pieces.

Abi Overland, illustration, styling, homeware, interior design, pattern, Instagram, Follow Friday, social media

A perfectly aligned shot of some of Abi’s screen-printed plates

Abi Overland, illustration, styling, homeware, interior design, pattern, Instagram, Follow Friday, social media

Abi injects personality into her brand with varied Instagram posts

Showing the creative behind the creations never fails to make for a more relatable and engaging Instagram account.

Greg McIndoe

Nowadays almost every business has some sort of social media presence but, in my opinion, not many of them run their accounts with as much class as Abi. Diversifying the styling of each shot keeps Abi’s feed fresh. From playful photos of her holding a cup out from under a blanket to a perfectly aligned photo some of her plates hung on a wall, each photo shows a different side of her brand’s personality.

Abi Overland, illustration, styling, homeware, interior design, pattern, Instagram, Follow Friday, social media

A vintage tea strainer compliments Abi’s elegant cup and saucer set

Abi Overland, illustration, styling, homeware, interior design, pattern, Instagram, Follow Friday, social media

Abi always has a range of neutral styling props of hand

Abi’s shots are always styled with specific props to create a cohesive aesthetic. Leafy plants, an antique tea strainer, and a gold pineapple are always on hand. Keeping props consistent makes for a unique grid with a consistent colour scheme, and a calm and collected vibe.

The vast majority of Abi’s photos feature her products, but it doesn’t feel too staged. Unusual angles and careful styling means you come to Abi’s Instagram for the interesting shots and (hopefully) stay to buy a cup.

Abi Overland, illustration, styling, homeware, interior design, pattern, Instagram, Follow Friday, social media

A collection of plates, mugs and cups from Abi’s online store

A small but notable piece of advice to be taken from Abi’s Instagram is that it is okay to include the odd personal shot. This is something we discussed during our insta-chat at the bar. We had all unfollowed peopled who had had babies and thought the whole world needed to know every time it sneezed, so were very aware that there is a balance to be found. The odd snippet of her personal life adds yet another dash of personality to Abi’s brand while keeping the overall focus on her work.

Between lots of creative students going back to university and needing a bit of cash, and Christmas not too far off, now is the perfect time to start your own online shop. There are plenty of styling tips to be taken from Abi’s feed.

Keep things cohesive in style but don’t have rules that are too strict – keep it fun and personal!

Greg McIndoe
Abi Overland, illustration, styling, homeware, interior design, pattern, Instagram, Follow Friday, social media

Abi also used her instagram to share work in progress shots of her illustrations

A slightly more personal reason for liking Abi’s feed, is that it has been nice to see how her business has grown. I interviewed Abi both before and just after she launched her business. We have kept in touch (through Instagram mainly) and she even sent me one of her stunning mugs as a thank you (they really are just as stunning in real life!). It has been amazing to see her business grow and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

Abi Overland, illustration, styling, homeware, interior design, pattern, Instagram, Follow Friday, social media

Abi’s Instagram feed is consistently classy

Abi Overland, illustration, styling, homeware, interior design, pattern, Instagram, Follow Friday, social media

A shot of Abi’s workspace in Brighton

Abi Overland, illustration, styling, homeware, interior design, pattern, Instagram, Follow Friday, social media

A closer look at the intricate level of detail which goes into Abi’s work

instagram.com/abioverlandjersey | abioverland.com

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Posted on Oct 6th, 17 by

Greg McIndoe - also known as Headless Greg - is an illustrator and design writer based in Glasgow, Scotland. He regularly writes for design magazines and online platforms, interviewing fellow illustrators and leading creatives.

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