Crystal Kluge

Her Story: Crystal Kluge turned a love for drawing into a successful portfolio that includes stationery, sticker, and typeface design, logo and licensing creation, and editorial and advertising work for clients such as Nordstrom, Nestlé (Skinny Cow), Target, Best Buy, and the Walker Art Center.

By Design: After a few years spent as an interior designer (she graduated from North Dakota State University), Kluge was considering going back to school for graphic design when a job at PaperSource resulted in commissions for wedding invitations. Her fanciful, romantic, and modern style quickly gained a following, and now her craft is her full-time gig.

A Rough Start: She may have received a D in sixth grade handwriting, but now Kluge is known for her creative lettering and whimsical fonts. Her six fonts—Carrotflower, Henparty, Nelly, Seasoned Hostess, Silverstein, and Darling Monogram—sell online (starting at $29.95) under the brand Tart Workshop. She even has a rubber stamp collection featuring her fonts at PaperSource.

A Collaborative Process: Though design and inspiration for the fonts belong to Kluge, the creation is a collaborative process. She works with Stuart Sandler (Font Bros., Font Diner) to perfect the font and transfer it to a digital format. “I start with a sketch, ink over it, scan it, and tweak in Photoshop, and he tells me if it will work or not. It’s my style with his technical skills.” 

To commission Kluge or see samples of her work, go to crystalkluge.com. Her fonts are available through MyFonts, Font Bros., and Veer.