Issue 7 is all about Tillie Partridge, a Manchester-based freelancer, sharing her love of handmade design and plenty of amazing Northern designers and studios that inspire her.
February 23rd, 2026
Tillie and I met back in 2018 while studying Graphic Design at the Manchester School of Art. Recently, I have been loving Tillie’s mixed media designs pop up on my instagram so I thought I would use the opportunity to hear all about her freelance design career in the North since we graduated five years ago and whether its shaped the work she’s making now.
Tillie is an advocate for handmade craft and design that embraces analogue details and imperfections that create ownership and a strong personal style. I love Tillie’s collage work that utilises the scanner, traditional letraset and analogue image manipulation it always has a beautiful thoughtful balance. As someone who’s always curious about how other designers think and how they tackle both digital and analogue design processes, I was especially excited to discover what’s influenced Tillie over the years.
Summary of your work: I’m a multidisciplinary creative designer combining strategic thinking, experimentation, and visual storytelling. My practice is rooted in conceptual, playful design and spans analogue and digital work, editorial design, creative direction, brand identities, creative content creation, website design and more. I’m driven by the ideation and experimental phases of the creative process, crafting narrative-led concepts through purposeful, tactile visuals.
Starting the day
What do you enjoy seeing on your to-do list?
Creative experimentation and ideation - allowing space for exploration, testing, concept ideation and embracing play as part of the process. Research-driven development to define the overarching creative direction of the project.
What books or publications on your shelf inspire you?
Ray Gun(90s magazines) - for it’s boundary-breaking, experimental approach to editorial design. Combining analogue techniques with bold visual storytelling while remaining legible.
Notamuse - for inspiration drawn from the work and perspectives of fellow female designers.
i-D Magazine - for creative direction, cultural research, and innovative editorial layouts.
G.F Smith Colourplan- for material exploration, paper stock research, and tactile inspiration.
DR.ME - for thoughtful design work, practical advice, and relatable stories from fellow Manchester School of Art alumni and Northerners.
The working day
Why are you based in the North & is it important to what you do?
I grew up in the North of England, in Huddersfield, and it has had a lasting influence on my creative practice. Despite having fewer opportunities and resources than the South, the North’s grit, history, work ethic, and sense of community have shaped how I think and create. The North has produced remarkable talent across music, fashion, art, and culture, continually inspiring my approach to design. Being a creative based in the North pushes me to work harder, challenge conventions, and carve out a distinct voice within my practice.
Northern businesses/studios that inspire you and your practice?
Jot Press (Liverpool) - As a current studio assistant, I’m inspired daily by the care, precision, and thought behind every project. From meticulous attention to detail to a deep respect for process and production, their work demonstrates how strong ideas are brought to life through considered print making.
F37 Studio (Manchester) - for their bold, expressive approach to branding and visual systems rooted in strong conceptual thinking.
Ensemble (Manchester) - for their refined, research-led design work and ability to balance clarity with experimentation.
Studio eNaR (Manchester) - for their thoughtful, material-led approach and exploration of design as both functional and expressive.
Made by Analogue (Leeds) - for their hands-on, tactile processes and celebration of analogue methods within contemporary design.
Jimmy Turrell (Newcastle) - for his playful, collage-led visual language and ability to tell stories through bold, characterful imagery.
Attic (Huddersfield) - for disrupting the design industry by proving that impactful, meaningful design can thrive locally, reinforcing the value of community and place in creative work.
DR.ME (Manchester) - for their distinctive voice, strong ideas, and generosity in sharing knowledge, advice, and stories within the design community.
Anthony Burrill (Manchester) - for his iconic use of typography, repetition, and message-driven design that blends optimism with clarity.
Vivienne Westwood (Peak District) - for her unapologetic attitude, disruption of conventional fashion, and belief in design as a tool for cultural and political expression.
Pith (Northumberland) - for their detailed, material-led approach that connects design, ideation, and planning.
End of the day
What do you think is on the horizon for the design industry?
The design industry is beginning to shift towards a clear focus on craft, tactile, and analogue processes, moving away from heavily generated AI visuals. This return to analogue thinking and human-led creativity feels both necessary and timely in an increasingly digital world. Creatives are seeking work that feels tactile, intentional, and something they can emotionally resonate with. As a result, I see the industry gravitating towards exhibitions, shared spaces, workshops, and collaborative events again. I believe this shift encourages making, learning, experimenting, collaborating and community building.
What does a satisfyingly complete day look like?
A satisfyingly complete day for me as a freelance creative designer is rooted in balance. It begins with time for creative experimentation, incorporating analogue and tactile elements into projects wherever possible. Stepping away from projects and my screen to walk through Manchester city centre allows me to gather inspiration from my surroundings while giving clarity on concept ideas. I aim to keep my day rounded out by connecting with clients and fellow creatives, sharing ideas, advice, and reflections on the wider creative industry culture.
Currently watching Film Club - set in Manchester and great Northern cast
Some great TV I have loved this past year:
Rewatching Happy Valley - Again set around Halifax / Hebden bridge near where I grew up
Severance - Truly incredible, I don’t have words to describe.
Saul goodman - dare I say I think it’s better tha breaking bad as a spin off series
Sopranos - amazing!
A piece of everyday design that you adore?
Olend Ona soft bag - Beautifully designed for work, travel and life in the most stylish colours and designs.
Pith Notebook / planner - crafted to perfection with every functional element a designer needs to ideate ideas and plan their week.
Tillie's design work and ethos feel entangled in both being Northern and having strong analogue experimental influences that help her carve out a distinct voice in her practice, which she admits is shaped by being based in the North.
When I reflect on who and what inspires my own design work and the studios that genuinely excite me, it reignites my passion and makes me want to create more, especially through a more analogue way of working. It sounds obvious but sometimes I forget to consciously revisit my influences and try new handmade processes and experiments. Reading through Tillie’s inspirations was a real treat and I enjoy seeing who others turn to and why. I particularly love the work of Pith, who I just discovered are based in Berwick (not super far from the Newcastle) who create, design and produce stationery. Realising who is based in the North reinforces how powerful it is to know who is creating locally and the strength of the community. Pith actually offer monthly tours of their Berwick upon Tweed factory to see their stationery manufacturing process. I reckon I will have to take a look to see their shop and studio.
Fellow Manchester School of Art alumni DR.ME, who Tillie finds especially inspirational, strike the same balance between digital and analogue design to create bold graphics. Their work is a considered yet messy mix of grid-breaking elements that somehow just works, often with a bit of humour and wit. Similarly, I often turn to their book “Not Dead or Famous Enough Yet" for inspiration. Their style is confident, unique, and instantly recognisable. That same experimental, raw visual language can also be seen in the work of Jimmy Turrell (Geordie legend).
Tillie mentions having a research-led development for her creative experimentation for her projects which I can appreciate as her style is crafted in playing and testing out ideas. Tillie’s instagram showcases her passion projects for brands like Adanola, I-D magazine and Massimo Dutti and I love that she shares work that is simply for the love of design and her craft something I want to harness in my own practice. Check out Tillie on Instagram here.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed, LMK your thoughts and stay tuned for the next editions of All in a Day's Work by Millie Jobson
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