Meet Anna Karpinski: designer from the start, talented photographer, and community builder. A St. Louisan through and through, Karpinski shares her excitement for collaborations between design fields happening today and the exploration of her city.

Meet Justin King, a designer and restaurant entrepreneur turned visual artist creating 3-D sculptures using unconventional materials like recycled cardboard, chess pieces, Legos and vibrant colors. Overcoming fears of pursuing his art, King navigated a way to make a creative practice work with his growing family with support from his spouse.

Since landing in St. Louis in 2021, Sophie Mendelson and Martha Bass have been building community one ice cream sandwich at a time, spinning nostalgia, individuality and queerness into the details.

Lauren Milford, a dedicated writer, editor, and video producer residing in Richmond Heights, is working on her first novel. She aims to build human connection through her authentic, compassionate storytelling. Inspired by St. Louis' vibrant growth and collaborative creative community, she appreciates nature for perspective and enjoys hot yoga, reading, and board games in her leisure time… and doesn’t believe in the concept of guilty pleasures.

Rachel Brandt, owner of The St. Louisan and St. Louisan Media, LLC, is a multi-faceted artist and entrepreneur passionate about creating meaningful content that nourishes communities, explores the intersection of arts, culture, nature, and wellness, and fosters communal connections through digital storytelling.

Meet Mike Spakowski, the powerhouse Partner and Creative Director at Atomicdust. His mantra? Design isn’t just about looking good, it's about making things better. He's a die-hard St. Louis fan who sees the city as a sandbox for creative folks and entrepreneurs.

Eschewing new materials in favor of ones with patina, he gravitates toward objects of wood and metal that have lived former lives, using them to communicate an unexplored direction, a way forward, a new energy.

Meet Aisha Sultan: voracious reader, passionate storyteller, and trailblazing journalist. Her innovative approach to storytelling, extending to filmmaking, is dedicated to making people feel seen and heard. From books to films, she continually aims to connect with and inspire her audience.

Josh Harris, a seasoned pianist, producer, and composer, brings his passion for music to life through his projects and collaborations with both indie and major label artists. His innovative approach to his craft, driven by a constant desire to learn and evolve, has seen him mentor upcoming talent while juggling his own artist projects.

Laura Burns, a lifelong St. Louisan, artist, and entrepreneur, exemplifies a passion for design through her ventures, including her 30-year old graphic design firm, designlab, inc., a stereotype-busting clothing company Girls Will Be, and the family-friendly restaurant, The Parkmoor Drive-In. With profound loss and love shaping her journey, Laura embodies a unique approach to creativity and life.

Meredith Boggess, a committed mother and professional, seeks to create a thriving, engaged online community for people in St. Louis and beyond, while also actively contributing to two organizations she admires: St. Louis Shakespeare Festival and Mission: St. Louis. Inspired by St. Louisans' creativity and collaborative spirit, she aims to support the city's cultural richness and diversity amidst changing landscapes.

He is at once a perpetual 13-year-old and full-blown adult, living his dream while keenly aware of the sacrifice he makes by building his life around his art.

For her, it’s about freedom of movement; for herself and for her customers, allowing them to build something beautiful on their terms, in their own neighborhoods.

John Beck didn’t always know what he was meant to do, but his hands did. From digging into high school art classes to crafting one-off projects at a welding job, he spent years circling his true love: steel.

of Steve’s Hot Dogs

By mixing color, texture and material, Theresa’s work is both strong and playful, a mix of sharp and soft, and always with an edge, much like those she designs for.

of Central Print