THE STORY

Martin Shaffu Designs began in 2020, during a period of rapid change.

After losing my job during the Covid-19 pandemic, I used the time to rethink the kind of work I wanted to create. I set myself a simple challenge: develop a visual style that felt distinctively mine.

I began producing small collections of five illustrations. One of those early series, Fruit of Thy Nation, explored national fruits from around the world. What started as a small experiment quickly became something I wanted to take much further.

The collection grew beyond national fruits into the familiar, unusual and occasionally overlooked varieties we encounter around the world. Fruit turned out to be the perfect subject for my work: colourful, sculptural, instantly recognisable and almost endlessly varied.

From the beginning, my aim has been to create something distinctive rather than follow an already crowded design trend. Each illustration combines bold geometry, colour and texture, transforming familiar subjects into something a little unexpected.

Today, those illustrations are growing beyond the page into a wider collection of art, stationery and homeware.

At the heart of Martin Shaffu Designs is a simple idea: beautiful, distinctive design should feel special without feeling inaccessible. A kind of luxury for everyone.

And ultimately, if the work brings a little colour, curiosity or happiness into somebody’s home, then it has done its job.

There is plenty more I want to make, and this is still only the beginning.