For Rachel Quan, giving design a tactile quality is a meditative process

If there’s one thing that stands out about designer Rachel Quan’s work, it’s the tactility of it. “Having an element of physicality while making is useful and even meditative for me,” the Brooklyn-based designer says. “The best case scenario is that it helps me forgo preciousness and respond more intuitively.” This has resulted in a portfolio full of editorial explorations, brands and art direction with an ineffable human quality – spontaneous yet thoughtful.

The thoughtfulness of Rachel’s work doesn’t stop at its tone or her approach but extends to the subject matter itself. “I’m most excited by subjects that centre artistry, a respect for earth, or have a sense of introspection,” Rachel says. “I’m quite inspired by everyday life, which inevitably means my interests can be all over the place.” Her work manages to uncover a sense of earnestness and honesty in how the mundane reflects our humanity back at us.

Rachel’s childhood interests acutely influence the approach, substance and character of her practice. She remembers her mother introducing her to her books by the filmmaker Peter Lindbergh and Irving Penn, alongside Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin and Harper’s Bazaar. “In hindsight, these were definitely influential,” Rachel says. “Currently, I’m very inspired by things like poetry, archives, printmaking, herbalism, photography, and of course so many genius designers today like Kurt Woerpel and Tracy Ma… It’s impossible to list it all!” Rachel ends.