Finding Creative Calm in the Garden: How Outdoor Rituals Shape My Map Designs
When the team at Inglewood, CA Summer Bucket List | Redfin (Parent company of ApartmentGuide and Rent.) invited me to share a summer ritual for their Inglewood, CA Summer Bucket List, I knew exactly which moment to highlight. The slow rhythm of gardening has long been the quiet engine behind my creative practice, and Redfin captured that feeling perfectly:
“One of my favorite summer rituals is spending time in our garden, surrounded by greenery and the slow rhythm of outdoor work. Tending the space and restoring the building each year sparks new ideas for my design work—especially for maps, coastal color palettes, and travel-inspired illustrations. It’s where creativity and calm meet.”
— Knut, Hebstreit Design
Where Gardening Meets Design
There’s a meditative pace to pulling weeds, pruning branches, and coaxing new life from soil that contrasts sharply with the high‑resolution detail of cartography. Yet the two practices feed one another. The garden’s textures—rough bark, glossy leaves, shifting sunlight—seep into my color palettes and linework. Fresh greens find their way into coastal map prints, while the structured beds inspire the grid systems behind my city posters.
From Soil to Sketchbook
I keep a sketchbook on the potting bench, so when a leaf vein suggests a new contour line or the evening light washes the scene in unexpected hues, it’s captured on the spot. These plein‑air notes later migrate to the studio, informing everything from fine‑art prints to large‑scale murals.
The Map Towel / Testimonial Series
One of my favorite cross‑pollinations between garden time and studio time is the Map Towel project—a testimonial series that pairs classic city grids with everyday textiles. The tactile nature of cotton towels mirrors the tactile choreography of gardening, turning functional objects into story‑telling canvases.
Above: A sneak peek at one of the hand‑printed map towels—perfect for beach days, picnics, or hanging as wall art.
Celebrating Inglewood in Living Color
Speaking of functional art: my latest poster, Colorful Inglewood, California – Blue & Orange, pays homage to the city featured in Redfin’s bucket list. The two‑toned palette echoes sunset silhouettes over vibrant community gardens. You can explore (or purchase) the print here:
Cultivating Calm, Cultivating Creativity
Whether I’m turning compost or tracing coastlines, each act is a quiet invitation to slow down and observe. The garden reminds me that design—like growth—thrives on patience, curiosity, and seasonal rhythm. As summer settles in, I hope you find your own pocket of green space to cultivate ideas and calm in equal measure.
— Knut
Founder & Lead Illustrator, Hebstreit Design
