Meet Our Friends: Sara Lintner

Sara Lintner is a Minneapolis-based graphic designer and the proprietress of Too Many Suitors, a creative goods business. We welcome Sara’s Parliament Scout Books as the newest edition to our Friends collection: these snazzy notebooks are now available in the shop! These pocket-sized beauties boast two exterior ink colors and grid interiors.

Sara took some time to talk with us about her creative practice. See more photos and read her thoughts after the jump!

Oh, and why “Parliament,” you wonder? It’s the term for a group of owls.

Tell us a little about your creative practice! What do you spend your days working on?

Too Many Suitors is based on the idea that I’m juggling multiple interests and thinking about the latest and greatest design—and my next move. I have to say, I love variety in my day and variety in what I’m working on. Some days I’m stuck to my computer in my studio, other days I’m freelancing in-house, or hanging with my freelancing buddy at a coffee shop. Right now I’m balancing getting my 2010 wholesale catalog out the door, researching stores to sell my line in, fulfilling online and store orders, preparing for the Renegade Craft Fair in Austin, TX; and folding and tagging shirts.

How did you get to where you are now? What is your creative background?

I was always the artsy-craftsy kid growing up and knew that I wanted to be an artist. It’s in my blood—I was even voted “most artistic” in high school! So, naturally, with my mother’s unwavering support, I followed my dreams of going to art school.

I arrived at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design thinking I’d be a photographer, but quickly changed my major to graphic design. I was interested in the wide variety of projects, mediums and clients this field had to offer. I interned and worked for Aesthetic Apparatus my senior year, freelanced for Target and Fallon Worldwide, took a full-time design job for over 2 and a half years and quit last November. I left a very stifling and corporate job to pursue freelance and take my product line, Too Many Suitors to the next level. So, I’m at a very exciting point in my life, out on my own, trying to make things happen. (and hopefully they do!)

What was the impetus for these Scout Books? What inspired the design?

It seems that the illustrations I’m most proud of are the ones that happen during a moment of inspiration. I was totally inspired by the blank Scout Books and wanted to print something I’d carry around with me wherever I went. I think it’s important to make things that I myself, would like to wear, have or buy for a gift. With that being said, I have a true love for owls, sixties illustrations, Scandinavian art and graph paper. Luckily for me, all these things are on trend at the moment and led to my super sweet Scout Book design!

What types of things inspire your work?

Anything and everything inspires me. Past and present artists/illustrators/designers, fashion, Martha Stewart and all that she does, 60s illustrations/commercial art, blogs, anything vintage, Charley Harper, patterns, printed ephemera (especially vintage), knitting, hand-painted signs, color combinations, vector illustrations, woodland creatures, texture, screen-printing, letterpress, owls, wood type, embroidery, flowers, cutesy Japanese product, good music, fellow classmates, former teachers and the list goes on.

Tell us about living in Minneapolis! Do you absolutely love it there?

Yes, I do love it here! I came here for college and haven’t left since. Minneapolis has a lot to offer culturally, artistically and socially. The Walker Art Center, First Avenue, MCAD, The Guthrie, and The Minneapolis Institute of Arts are all driving forces for design and the arts in town.

There are a ton of great design agencies and thus, a lot of designers. A couple years back in one of Print Magazine’s Design Regional Annual had the perfect description of Minneapolis: “You can’t swing your laptop bag without hitting another designer.” It is totally true! The saturation of talent is inspiring, but also very competitive.

Where can we find more of your work?

For my product line: www.toomanysuitors.com For my portfolio: www.saralintner.com