This month's Curious Person is Kristen Willis (she/ her)- an artist, designer and illustrator based in Brisbane, Australia. We explored the theme of Growing up Nostalgic over on our collaborative Pinterest board taking inspiration from sunshine-y childhood memories combined with colourful nostalgia.
About You
Introduce yourself!
Hi, I’m Kristen Willis, a Brisbane-based creative with a Fine Arts edge and a Graphic Design mindset. After years of working across freelance and agency roles, I founded Tondo Creative—a space where bold design meets artistic soul.
My Italian heritage shapes a lot of what I do, from a deep love of storytelling to an unapologetic appreciation for good biscotti. At heart, I’m passionate about crafting brands with purpose, personality, and staying power—because I believe every story deserves more than just visuals; it deserves vision and authenticity.
Alongside my design work, I’m also an award-winning children’s book illustrator, drawn to the magic of narrative storytelling. There’s nothing quite like opening a manuscript for the first time and discovering the quirky characters, vibrant worlds, and timeless adventures waiting inside.
Did you always know you wanted to do what you do? What was the journey like to get to where you are now?
Becoming a picture book illustrator felt like something I was always meant to do. It brought together everything I love—my job as a graphic designer, my love of painting and drawing, and a special story I had been dreaming up in my spare time.
When I was little, I wanted to be a cartoonist and a professional clarinet player (yes, really!). But mostly, I just wanted to draw and make people smile through art. I think little Kristen would be proud of how things turned out.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
When I’m not at the drawing desk, you’ll often find me celebrating my author and illustrator friends—whether that’s cheering them on at book launches, swooning over their freshly printed titles in bookstores and department stores, or running Art in the Park events to bring together book creators and book lovers. I treasure soaking up the sunshine on my hilltop property, and I’m a firm believer that reorganising my studio and art supplies keeps both my space and my mind fresh for creativity. Above all, I love being the ultimate hype-girl for my wonderfully talented friends, supporting their creative ventures every chance I get.
The Pinterest Board
See the board we collaborated on here.
Tell us what you think of the board theme- why does it inspire or interest you and what’s your connection to the theme?
When I think about retro nostalgia, I can’t help but go straight back to my childhood—and to the person who shaped so much of who I am as a creative: my Nonna Lina. She was my guiding light. After moving from Italy to Australia, she somehow managed to stitch her old life into her new one. She taught me traditions, yes—but more than that, she showed me what it meant to be endlessly resourceful, hardworking, and creative.
Nonna was a dressmaker back in Italy, and in Australia she opened her own sewing shop. People adored her, and I adored being in that shop. To me, it was a wonderland of possibilities. I’d doodle on paper bags, play shopkeeper, or climb up to a secret perch on the shelves where I’d dream up whole new worlds. She gave me permission to imagine freely—and I’ve carried that gift into everything I do today.
Now, working in children’s books, I feel that same sense of belonging and purpose Nonna must have felt in her little shop. Her influence is stitched into every page I illustrate, every brand I create, and every story I help bring to life.
If you could collaborate with anyone—living or historical—on a project around this theme, who would it be and why?
If I could collaborate with anyone, it would be my Nonno Francesco, my Nonna Lina’s husband—someone I sadly never got the chance to meet. I often wonder about his dreams, his creative sparks, and the stories he carried with him. He grew up in Sicily, where his family worked as farmhands and close friends for a wealthy household that lived in a castle. Can you imagine the inspiration tucked inside those castle walls?
I’d love to sit with him, hear his war stories, and ask him what it was really like to grow up in that world. And most of all, I’d want him to recite the songs and jokes that were passed down through my Nonna. They became part of my own childhood soundtrack, but to hear them in his voice would have been something truly special. To me, collaborating with him—even just through stories and memory—would feel like weaving my family’s past directly into my creative future.
What’s the absolute, non-negotiable piece of content you pinned that people must see?
Looking for Alibrandi—featuring my ultimate teen Italian icon, Pia Miranda, and her unforgettable coming-of-age story. I literally felt like I was Josie Alibrandi myself and even dropped my pencil after finishing my Year 12 exams! The movie came out the same year I graduated, and honestly, it was everything.
Closing Curios
Beverage of choice?
Bookshop café? Chai latte.
Girls’ night out? Any gin cocktail.
Sunny afternoon? Prosecco, always.
Favourite recent find (could be a book, tv show, website, tiktok account)?
I just binge-watched Better Things on Netflix. The main character, Sam—a single creative mum—completely resonated with me. I loved how her gloriously neurodivergent brain captured everyday mum-life in the weirdest and most wonderful ways.
Where would you visit in a time machine? And Why?
I’d go back to 1958, the day my Nonna left her family in Sicily. I’d love to feel how love alone carried her across the ocean for four long weeks—to a land where she didn’t know the language or a single soul—clutching only the letters of hope and devotion from my Nonno Francesco.
Favourite ever thrifted find?
My all-time favourite thrifted treasure has to be a glossy 1950s apple-shaped thermos—identical to the one my grandparents were given as a wedding gift in Ingham, Far North Queensland. I have such fond memories of that apple coming along on family beach trips, always packed with crumbed steak and arancini. It’s like holding a little piece of family history in my hands.
Last niche interest you dived deeply on?
As a picture book creator, I get to deep dive into all sorts of topics to make sure each story feels authentic—and to nail the details in my illustrations. Right now? I’m completely into goats!
What ridiculous item is on your wishlist that you want to buy but absolutely do not need?
Ridiculous wishlist item? Honestly, I just wish my art supplies would never run out—like a pack of Tim Tams that magically replenishes itself! There’s nothing worse than hitting the end of your favourite Caran d’Ache pastels or Liquitex gouache mid-creation.
Stay in Touch
You can find Kristen on Instagram or see more of her work on her website.
