Justine Ma knows what it means to be an Edmontonian or, as she prefers to identify, as a “yegger.” No matter how harsh the snowstorms outside, you’ve got to live loud and laugh hard.
“See how bright the colours are on these cards?” shows the artist. “That’s how you want to lighten up people’s moods as soon as they open the envelope.”
Even before getting her degree in design, Ma always knew what type of artist she wanted to be: a loud cheerleader who shows up at every celebration. From greeting cards and stationery to home decor, Ma shares her cheerful energy.
“It’s important for us to feel loved and appreciated, and sometimes we need a daily reminder of that,” shares Ma. “A simple ‘you’ve got this’ printed on a cute patterned sheet of paper from a loved one goes a long way.”
For Ma, her list of things to be appreciated never ends, so does her inspiration. Designing art prints and pins is her way of saying “thank you for being here” to her community members. Proceeds of some of her products also goes to local charities and not-for-profit organizations, including the Black Book Shelf Project and Indigenous initiatives.
Shop Justine Ma justinema.ca
This article appears in the March/April 2023 issue of Edify
This content was produced to support the Edmonton Made community. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Edify staff.
