Designer Q&A: Camellia Neri’s five catalysts for creativity | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

Camellia Neri, Lead Illustrator at Gusto, draws creative energy primarily from childhood memories and nostalgic places. Her five inspirations—from Disneyland to San Francisco’s hidden history—teach her to value research, surprise, storytelling, collaboration, and overlooked details. Together, they form a creative practice focused on making illustrations feel both genuine and richly imagined.

Main Street, Disneyland

• Neri’s childhood memories of Disneyland began with watching a parade from her father’s shoulders.
• Main Street’s detailed storefronts, gold-leaf lettering, and carefully constructed world showed her how craft creates authenticity.
• She applies the same principle to illustration by researching subjects thoroughly and approaching each visual decision intentionally.

Pee-Wee’s Playhouse

• The show inspired her through its combination of comedy, puppetry, life lessons, unusual artwork, and unexpected details.
• Its creators included animator Ric Heitzman, cartoonist Gary Panter, and painter Wayne White.
• Neri believes strong illustrators add surprising moments and personal “easter eggs” that reveal their individuality and delight the audience.

The Los Angeles Museum of Natural History

• The museum’s taxidermy dioramas influenced her because they function like large, three-dimensional illustrations.
• Carefully arranged animals, painted backgrounds, lighting, and ecosystem-specific color palettes create complete visual stories.
• She sees the same qualities in effective landing pages: strong storytelling, impactful visuals, and dynamic design working together as one experience.

Quentin Blake and Roald Dahl

• Neri kept her Roald Dahl books illustrated by Quentin Blake even after giving away most of her childhood collection.
• Blake’s drawings strengthened Dahl’s whimsical narratives and helped define the books’ characters and shared creative identity.
• She compares the illustrator-writer relationship to a marriage, emphasizing the importance of choosing collaborators carefully and nurturing a productive partnership.

San Francisco’s Hidden History

• San Francisco’s obscure historical stories provide Neri with an ongoing source of ideas and conversation.
• She illustrates these discoveries on a Medium blog and uses Figma to maintain a consistent visual brand across the project.
• Her work reflects the illustrator’s role in making unseen or forgotten worlds visible, such as the city’s buried ships and other historical oddities.

Neri’s approach recommends looking closely at personal memories, cultural influences, collaborators, and overlooked details. Creative inspiration can come from anywhere, but it becomes most powerful when transformed through research, craftsmanship, and a distinctive personal perspective.