My name's Alison Murphy.

I'm a multidisciplinary designer, with proven experience in UX and web design, editorial design, marketing, illustration, and more. These days, I live in Florida and I like fantasy novels, manatee watching, and doodling.

About the Once and Future thing...

‘Once and future’ is taken from the novel The Once and Future King by T.H. White, a retelling of the legends of King Arthur. The phrase ‘once and future’ itself is taken from Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, from the inscription of Arthur’s tomb – “Here lies Arthur, king once, and king to be.”

I read White’s novels when I was a kid, and they stuck with me, particularly the phrase ‘once and future.’ To me, it evokes ideas of both constance and evolution. These are two important qualities in people, especially creative professionals. While there are certain aspects of ourselves, our artistic inspirations, and our sensibilities we will always carry, we must also be willing to embrace growth and change.

When trying to decide what to call myself as a creative, I took the phrase ‘once and future’ as a sort of title. To me, it serves as a reminder to strive to stay true to myself personally and professionally, as well as remember to be open to new ideas and experiences. I chose to use the sword in the stone as an icon for myself not only since it is the quintessential symbol of Arthurian legend, but also a symbol of the potential and growth that lies within us all.