Iconographic is a bold, collaborative wallcovering collection developed in partnership with Astek and actor, artist, and advocate Terry Crews. The idea sparked when one of Astek’s designers discovered Terry’s talent as an illustrator and reached out. To our surprise, he responded, and a powerful creative exchange began.

As Creative Director, I led the concept development and oversaw the creative process, working closely with the internal design team and with Terry himself. Terry shared a deeply personal list of icons who shaped his identity, from artists and architects to athletes and entertainers. He even contributed original graphite portraits of Lucille Ball, Muhammad Ali, Walt Disney, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Astek’s design team (myself included) built the rest of the collection from there, layering hand-drawn portraits with graphic elements and symbolic motifs that add meaning and depth. Each piece includes subtle visual nods to its subject’s legacy, designed to spark moments of discovery for fans and newcomers alike.

The final series is as collaborative as it is cohesive, and Terry’s warmth and humility made the process a joy. We surprised him by including a portrait of him in the final lineup, a moment that moved him to tears.

Iconographic debuted at ICFF in New York in 2024 and won the NYCxDesign Award for Best Contract Wallcovering. Terry even joined us in the booth to celebrate.