Zen and the art of illustration with Livelyhood

It's amazing what a change of scenery can do for your creativity. And sometimes, if you make that change permanent, it'll set you on a new track towards enlightenment.

This is exactly what's happened to Thai designer and illustrator Livelyhood, the creative handle for Sornsil Apichirapokey, AKA Win. From working as a graphic designer in the busy metropolis of Bangkok, he relocated to the Satun region of the country, near the border with Malaysia, where life is quiet and peaceful.

The move has fed into his creativity, coinciding with a transition into illustration. Win has developed a style that is mellow, calm and uplifting. At times, you could even call it meditative, tying in with the Buddhist philosophies he follows.

"This change made me realise how lucky I am to be here," he says. "When life is calm and not so rushed, I have more time to talk to myself and understand who I really am. I believe that, in the end, what everyone is truly looking for is inner peace."

For Win, as with so many of us, that inner peace comes through a connection with nature, and the environment and sustainability are important themes in his work. One of his outstanding projects is a card game called Mission Zero, created for P24, a Thai organisation focused on the transition to net zero. Players compete to lower their emissions, laying down cards, counting their points, and hopefully thinking about real change in the process.

"It visualises how our daily activities affect the planet and reminds us that we can actually stop it," says Win. "The big challenge was managing how players perceive the game. Some card groups needed to be monochrome, others colourful, all while incorporating various functional icons, yet the whole game still had to be cohesive."

In creating Mission Zero, Win brought together his design experience with his growing illustration skills. In fact, his designer's eye plays an interesting role in how he conceives and composes his illustrations. His latest personal series, A Common Ending for Everything, explores themes such as change, death, and renewal. Gradient bars form interesting elements in each image, yet never interrupt the gentle tone Win has conjured.

"The concept is like taking a photo. When we take a picture of a beautiful view, we want to keep that exact moment forever. But in reality, that moment is already gone," explains Win. "I use the gradient bars as a gentle reminder that even the most beautiful moments will eventually pass and fade away. In Buddhism, if we see and accept this truth often, the day we really have to say goodbye won't be too hard on us – because, in a way, our hearts are already prepared."

Another of his favourite projects is a series of posters for CIMB Bank, which has raised his profile in Thailand and has appeared on the BTS Skytrain network in Bangkok. It has also been turned into animations on the jumbotrons at major intersections.

Now, the one thing worth pointing out is that, having found solace in the Thai countryside, Win's work looks better than ever. That peaceful lifestyle could get a lot busier with the talent he's showing. And, as he observes, illustration in his country is going from strength to strength.

"Over the past five years, the illustration scene in Thailand has become so much more vibrant. Brands are using illustrations to communicate more than ever, and we're seeing more illustration fairs and galleries giving space to this kind of work. I feel like everything is moving in a really positive direction," he says.

However, Win is taking things steadily, not setting any big goals, and just trying to share the positive vibe with others. "I do have one dream project for the future," he adds. "I want to create a picture book about mindfulness. I believe that when we are mindful, wisdom follows, and problems can be solved. To me, it's the core of a life we can truly navigate."