Design duo Scheffe Shields champions archival material and analogue techniques

Scheffe Shields is the design practice of Chloe Scheffe and Natalie Shields, who are based in Seattle and New York, respectively. Founded in 2021, the practice is driven by the creative interests of Chloe and Natalie, who list 17th-century Dutch still lifes, 90s minimalist fashion, the superdense typesetting of Japanese newspapers, the gothic arts, fantasy novels and vintage motocross jerseys as some of their current (and very varied) inspirations.

For Chloe and Natalie, it’s of the utmost importance that their practice not be tied down by its past, and they call themselves strong proponents of styles that constantly evolves. “We believe real style, versus affected style, develops organically and evolves year by year,” they say. “Important motifs naturally recur over time.” Indeed, despite their shifting reference points and sources of inspiration, some things remain the same at Scheffe Shields, and one of those things is a focus on printed matter and typography. This is their bread and butter.

Another constant is their commitment to world-building in their projects, as well as a considered, handcrafted approach – “every project is in some way done by hand,” they note. These projects include everything from branding for Tribeca Films to album packaging for Tinashe to apparel capsules for Nike Running. Their design ethos is perfectly exemplified in a new book for Nike about women and sportswear titled Look Good, Feel Good, Play Good. Playful, expressive typefaces adorn its pages, while touches like an exposed spine and a tie-dye cover evoke a handmade feel.

Editorial work makes up the bulk of Chloe and Natalie’s output, and their experience in this field is extensive, having worked on coffee table books like the aforementioned Nike release, as well as magazines, zines and newspapers. Through these physical mediums, the pair are able to express their intricate and intimate approach design, as well as engage with subject matter that is important to them. Speaking on this, they say: “We consider ourselves lucky to contribute to the cultural sectors we care about: music, film, sports and fashion.”