Samar Haddad, known for her playful yet sophisticated caricatures under the name “Space Vacation”, creates pop-culture poster art inspired by her favorite TV shows and films. Her exemplary cartooning skills allow her to create distinct faces with just a few lines, making her work instantly recognizable. Her illustrations can be seen frequently on The Verge, accompanying how-tos and The Vergecast. In a recent interview, Samar talked about her inspiration, drawing people without noses, and balancing art with parenthood.
Samar began creating pop-culture prints after feeling stuck in a design job where she had limited creative input. When given the opportunity to create posters for a television production company, she discovered the freedom and enjoyment of illustrating iconic movie characters. Her love for movies and series inspired her to continue creating posters based on her favorite films, leading to the launch of Space Vacation through her first exhibition in 2016. Movies like Alien, The Breakfast Club, and Star Wars have played a significant role in shaping her interest in illustration.
Samar’s creative process involves capturing inspiration from movies or shows she has recently watched, developing ideas, creating vector elements, experimenting with color schemes and compositions, and digitally combining the elements into one cohesive composition. She treats the process like a collage, drawing on her love for art collages as a hobby. The uniqueness and recognizability of the faces she draws stem from experimenting with geometric and curvier styles, focusing on emphasizing the eyes and mouth without drawing noses consciously.
Despite the demands of parenthood, Samar makes time for creative play to fuel her inspiration and continue drawing “just for fun.” She treats editorial art and commissioned projects the same way as self-initiated prints, ensuring that each piece receives her full attention and dedication. While balancing work and family life has presented challenges, Samar remains committed to nurturing her creativity and drawing inspiration from her experiences and interactions. By prioritizing creative play and self-expression, she continues to evolve as an artist and inspire others through her distinctive illustrations.