Graphica Botanica – Katie Kolenberg

These images are a selection from a series created as a part of a self-directed project in the fourth and final year of my graphic design degree in which I designed an annual report for the Botanic Gardens.

My objective was to create dynamic compositions using flora collected from various gardens. By stripping away colour and surroundings (two aspects of the ‘garden experience’ that are usually inextricably linked), I was able to focus entirely on form, texture, pattern and detail.

I want the viewer to feel an overwhelming appreciation for the beauty and uniqueness of botanic forms. My style pays homage to traditional botanical illustrations, but my approach is that of a graphic designer, treating each piece of flora as a design element. As a result the plants take on a powerful, almost sculptural form, which creates a zen-like mood that is quite mesmerizing.