Original collections, released in small batches.

A young woman sitting on a sandy beach, wearing a gray knit hand-made beanie, and a blue denim jacket with patches she designed. This is the owner and designer of by hand who creates collections of designs for businesses to license.

Here you’ll find limited-batch illustration collections for brands and businesses looking for visual work that still feels individual. Each custom collection of designs from By Hand are released thoughtfully and selectively.

Please start by answering a few questions to help me understand your brand and whether a collection might be a good fit. I'm intentionally keeping each release small so I can be thoughtful about where the work ends up.

ABOUT THE COLLECTIONS

Not another endless asset library.

Each By Hand collection is developed as a complete visual world: original forms, a distinct atmosphere, and enough flexibility to become part of a brand without making every brand look the same.

Some collections have already begun finding their homes. Future releases will be offered in limited licensing batches to a smaller group of businesses and creatives.

HOW IT WORKS

01 — Join the Waitlist
Share a little about your brand, business, or creative practice.

02 — Receive Exclusive Updates
You will hear when new collections are ready, along with licensing details and examples of the work in use.

03 — Be the First to Know
Each launch will have a limited number of licenses. Access will be reviewed by request rather than opened indefinitely to all.

Joining the list does not reserve a license or require a purchase. It simply places you among the first to hear when a collection is released.

SEE THE COLLECTIONS IN ACTION

“Dena really took the time to understand my needs and my vision for my merchandise project. She was really able to get to a design that works. I highly recommend working with Dena if you know what you want, know how you want something to look, but just don’t possess the technical skills to execute the design. She is your perfect technical translator for your vision.
”
— Anne F. | Somewhere in Carmel
A young boy holding a red popsicle on a stick, standing on a sandy beach with rocky hills in the background, wearing a cream-colored t-shirt with colorfulhand drawn flower sun graphics made for Somewhere in Carmel, a small boutique in Carmel, CA.
A white bucket had with a hand drawn fish design in green embroidery reading 'Caramel by the Sea California' designed for a small boutique in Carmel, California.
A minimalist cliffside illustration with sea birds saying "Somewhere in Carmel" and a graphic sticker design for a small boutique shop.
A masculine hand drawn designed t-shirt with checkered border and colorful design with a scene with cliffs and birds made for Somewhere in Carmel, a small boutique shop in Carmel, California.
Close-up of a graphic white T-shirt with green text that reads "TIDE HOUSE SRF N SPORT HARBOR BEACH" designed from By Hand designs featuring custom illustrations from her coastal design collection ready for open licensing for brands and businesses.
Close-up of a vinyl album art cover for 'Summer Songs' with a wave design at the bottom featuring illustrations from By Hand Designs' coastal design collection ready for open licensing for brands and businesses.
A custom business card for 'Surfside Coffee House' featuring illustrations from By Hand Designs' coastal design collection ready for open licensing for brands and businesses.
A custom branded shipping box featuring illustrations from By Hand Designs' coastal design collection ready for open licensing for brands and businesses.
A hangtag for store merchandise with a logo featuring pink flourishes and an orange circle in the center that says 'SOMEWHERE IN CARMEL' as a sun surf graphic made for Somewhere in Carmel, a small boutique in Carmel, CA.
A custom sea bird sticker with the text "Caramel by the Sea, CA" graphics made for Somewhere in Carmel, a small boutique in Carmel, CA.
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