Hi there! I’m Valerie Nelson, and I work as a Designer, Illustrator, and Art Director through various mediums from packaging, products, brands, books, animation, and more.

Most of my work in the past eight years has been in the realm of arts & recreation, craft kits, and creativity toys/games. I’ve recently worked with Mudpuppy as an illustrator, with Super Smalls on accessory graphics, and with Play-Doh on art direction, branding concepts, and packaging design. While working as the lead Graphic Designer for Todd Oldham Studio, I designed for Kid Made Modern and created the kids’ craft brands Making with MoMA, Smarts & Crafts, and Camp Plaid. There, I also designed books like The Best of Nest, and assisted in creating a digital webshow.

Continuously for over ten years, I’ve also been a visual artist and illustrator, making personal and client work that often involves animals, child-friendly graphics, and colorful creatures. In 2023, I started Snailerie.co as a stationery shop and a place for most of my characters to live.

While my work predominantly shows playfulness on the surface, I also aim to focus on issues regarding accessibility, mental health, and the arts. Hoping to make the world a little brighter and more joyful in a way that’s sustainable, inclusive, caring, and fun.

* Collaborations done through Todd Oldham Studio