The design of the small village on the western coast of Portugal, the surfing capital of Europe, became the starting point for Arksel Posters. For 6 months, he was a seasonal worker at a surf camp in the town of Ericeira.” My first design will always be special to me, as I spent a long time there, met a lot of people and collected many memories," says Axel.

The poster, not yet, if ever for sale, features a coastal view, the skyline of Ericeira. White buildings with blue frames that constitute the heart of the city center and below that, the big blue sea. It's a somewhat sunburned and happy Axel that I meet. “I came home yesterday,” he points out located in his hometown of Borås as we speak. ”When I woke up this morning, the view was a bit different than in Portugal," he says and smiles.

“My first design will always be special to me, as I spent a long time there, met a lot of people and collected many memories.”

  • Axel's first design

In November 2023, he posted his first TikTok, around the same time he got in touch with Cay Collective, through which he later began selling his art. The number of customers kept growing, and many considered his posters the perfect Christmas gift. “It got hectic before Christmas, but I was, of course, incredibly flattered that people like what I do,” says Axel and smiles. In his newfound role as a designer, he and his trusty computer forged a strong partnership, dedicating considerable time to the art of poster design.

The posters are currently dominated by Swedish classics and various drinks. “It's something we all have in common, food and drinks, and people like the motifs.” His top-selling poster titled 'After ski,' depicts a beer where the foam also forms a snow-covered slope with a skier rushing down. ”My ideas just pop up uncontrollably, probably from memories and experiences I've been through,” he adds.

Your thoughts bring you to the beats from the DJ and the live sounds of the saxophone. Toasts are raised left and right, and someone pops a bottle. People dance on the tables, enjoying life as the sun sets over the majestic mountains. “Competition is a reality; there are many creating drink posters, so I like to be more creative by adding a twist,” he explains.

”My ideas just pop up uncontrollably, probably from memories and experiences I've been through.”

The poster titled Svensk Husman truly takes you on a nostalgic trip to grandma's kitchen. The scent of fried meatballs that are then presented on refined porcelain and served with sauce, mashed potatoes, stirred lingonberries and pickled cucumber on a checkered tablecloth. "I'm inspired by the small things in life, which, as it turns out, many others are too,” says Axel.

"I'm inspired by the small things in life, which, as it turns out, many others are too.”

I ask Axel if he has any role models in illustration and design. "Honestly, I don't," he says. "It would be very nice if I did," he adds with a laugh. He is confident that in the future, he will find some in the same genre who inspire him, but for now, it's his own imagination that guides him. "I do it the way I did when I was a kid — I draw the first things that come to mind, no rules,” he says with a sigh of relief.

"I do it the way I did when I was a kid — I draw the first things that come to mind, no rules."

  • The poster "After ski" in progress

On his social media platforms, numerous followers actively contribute ideas for Axel's designs. The poster titled Kräftskiva stands out as an example of an idea that originated from his engaged audience, something he might not have considered otherwise. Axel recounts how he has received not only excellent suggestions but also some humorous requests, though those remain between us. Something he would like to try as a motif is landscapes, with a slightly more funky style.

On April 1st, it's off to Costa Rica for even more surfing. "What's great is that I only need to bring my computer, and I can create posters wherever I am," says Axel. We look forward to experiencing Axel's upcoming adventures encapsulated in new posters that can adorn our walls.

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Author Johanna Karlqvist