HI! I’M LEE!
I’m a 21-year-old Merchandise Designer and Illustrator based in Newcastle, Australia!
I love making merch – trying new techniques, coming up with unique ideas, and taking my digital artworks and turning them into physical objects!
I’ve spent the past 5-ish years making plushies, keychains, stickers and more! I love merch design – the process of taking digital artwork and turning it into a real item that people can interact with is so much fun.
NOTFOREATING has been many things over the years – a brand, a merch store, and a million things in between – but today, I hope it serves as a valuable collection of resources that answer the questions you’ve been asking.
AREAS OF INTEREST:
Youth and young people
The creative industries
Educational resources, tools and programs
Interactive + innovative projects
Merchandise for existing media
CERT IV GRAPHIC DESIGN – 2019
BACHELOR VIS COM DESIGN – 2024
HONORS VIS COM DESIGN – 2025
What you can expect in 2026
Yippee. I’m no longer a student! I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication Design in 2024 (majoring in graphic design and illustration) and at the end of 2025 I handed in my final thesis to complete Honors in Visual Communication Design.
Stick around for tips, tutorials, and a behind-the-scenes peek at my creative process – featuring my mascot Cow, my cat Luna (a notorious photobomber), and plenty of the colour blue (my fave!)
I’ve also started experimenting with makerspace equipment like 3d printers, UV printers, risography and laser cutting. You can expect to see lots of behind the scenes showing off how these machines work and what you can do with them!
More about what I do
Merchandise can feel overwhelming to learn about, especially when you are just starting out. This is why I started creating resources, tutorials and content to help artists like you bring your ideas to life and make your own merchandise. On my socials and website, you’ll find content designed to answer your biggest questions about making merch. You can expect to find interesting, unique and interactive merch ideas, insight into some of the newest manufacturing techniques and trends, fun ways to make merchandise, packaging and more (both manufactured and at home), complete with templates and step by step guides to help you on your way.
My practical guides and templates cover everything from designing stickers and creating keychains to crafting unique packaging.
All of the content I make is designed with artists in mind! I focus on sharing relevant information and practical skills that would have helped me when I was starting out. Think of my tutorials and guides like training wheels – they’re here to support you while you learn. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll be able to confidently take off on your own!
Merch Design
I’ve just completed an honours thesis focused on developing resources for the indie merch design community, so I’m super excited for the opportunity to run booths in 2026 showing off my projects.
Custom Plushies
More info here:
Artist Alley Events
