CACTUS COUNTRY

Cactus Country, made up of the husband-and-wife design team of Lauren and Mark Johnston, is a multidisciplinary independent design firm specializing in brand identity and illustration. Based in Phoenix, AZ they've called the Southwest home their whole lives (Mark was born & raised in Arizona and Lauren in California) and have found that their creativity thrives best in the desert or on the open road. When they're not creating incredible designs, you'll find them shuffling between Arizona and California to enjoy the desert sunshine and cooler coastal air. Their work is primarily inspired by stories of the open road and things of the past - Vintage Arizona Highways Magazines, old printed ephemera, William Eggleston, Ed Ruscha, Josef Albers, and Mark Rothko. Given that they spend much of their time in desert landscapes, their designs often exude a Western attitude and draw from the natural sights and surroundings they see in their travels. Along with their past experience working with letterpress printing, these collective experiences combine into an incredible design aesthetic that caters toward print application, clean lines, organic textures, and hand-drawn illustrations. In all of their work, Lauren and Mark follow the age-old adage "good work is always honest" which keeps their creativity natural, their attitude humble, and their work authentic for each and every project. They are continually inspired by the work of other influential modern designers including Lauren Dickens, Alana Louise, Kendrick Kidd, Fried Cactus Studio and Hoodzpah. When they're not working on design projects, you can find them hiking, traveling, cooking, and spending time with their dog Pepper and cat Luna.