Author | Lightnews

Fons Mans

@fonsmans.com

5.9K followers 41 following 320 posts

Visual Artist & Designer

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Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 25d

Introducing Artifact — A weekly publication exploring the craft, process, and beauty behind exceptional visual design.

readartifact.com

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Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 1d

This is exactly what we do at Offgrid. Helping companies refine, evolve, and implement visual systems that actually scale.

Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 1d

When you design, think about who will use the identity after you’re done. It should look great and be practical for the people working with it.

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Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 1d

Too many visual identities look amazing in the brand book but fall apart in the real world.

Often because they’re too complex for in-house teams, assets take forever to recreate, or leave too much open to interpretation.

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Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 5d

Building a following as a designer opens doors, but it also adds distractions.

I wrote a bit about my experience so far: open.substack.com/pub/fonsman...

You built a following as a designer — now what?

You post your work. You share your process. People start following. At first, it feels like validation, proof that what you’re doing matters. And before you notice, it starts shaping what you make.

www.readartifact.com

Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 8d

There’s no shortcut to taste. You can only earn it through volume and reflection.

Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 8d

Visual design in tech is in the middle of an identity crisis. It’s polished and soulless at the same time.

Every company claims to care about aesthetics, yet most look alike. Read more:
substack.com/home/post/p...

We made design efficient and killed the magic

Visual design in tech has entered an identity crisis. It’s polished and soulless at the same time; every company claims to care about aesthetics, yet most products look alike.

www.readartifact.com

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Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 10d

I wrote something about visual confidence
substack.com/home/post/p...

How to build visual confidence as a designer

Most designers don’t suffer from a lack of talent. They suffer from a lack of conviction.They tweak endlessly, chasing something “better” instead of deciding what’s right. That isn’t a skill problem.

www.readartifact.com

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Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 10d

Loving the thumbnail for this week's newsletter on the creation of Offgrid Sans.

Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 14d

Got a few incredible companies hiring full-time designers right now.

I’m curating a private list of vetted designers to connect with them, fully confidential.

If you’d like to be included, DM me your portfolio + location.

Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 20d

I hope every designer reaches a point in their career where they can decline projects that don't align with their life or design philosophy.

Creating meaningful work with people you enjoy collaborating with is truly all you need.

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Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 21d

Dutch Designers — Logo Treatment Exploration

Reposted by Fons Mans

Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 24d

Logo for Artifact — readartifact.com

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Reposted by Fons Mans

Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 23d

Signal & Noise — Poster set

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Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 23d

Signal & Noise — Poster set

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Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 24d

Logo for Artifact — readartifact.com

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Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 25d

Burst — Made in @figma

Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 25d

Introducing Artifact — A weekly publication exploring the craft, process, and beauty behind exceptional visual design.

readartifact.com

1 30

Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 26d

Product Design for Mashup

Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · 29d

Gradient exploration for @typefully

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Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · Oct 12

Fall — Visual Research

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Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · Oct 9

The demand for work that feels distinct, thoughtful, and human has never been higher.

Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · Oct 9

In a world of generic templates, pre-built systems, and AI-generated designs, visual design is a superpower.

Tools have lowered the barrier, anyone can create. But when everyone uses the same tools, it’s vision and craft that make the difference.

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Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · Oct 7

Email design — Made for @thecosmos

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Fons Mans @fonsmans.com · Oct 7

Offgrid site refresh

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