I’m Christy Johnson, founder and CEO of United Goods. I started working as a graphic designer and artist in 2003 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A life-long creative, I’ve loved to draw since I was a kid. While working as a graphic designer for several different companies, I developed a unique style of illustrating, and began creating minimalistic, graphic prints of local landmarks.

Those prints became State Icons, which are tiny illustrations of U.S. landmarks that come in handmade wood frames (made by my parents!). I draw with a computer and mouse—yes, a mouse—and make each framed print using U.S.-sourced materials, including archival-grade paper and inks. The high-quality giclée prints feature your favorite buildings, signs, statues, and more from the cities and states you adore. While some of these structures might not be known throughout the world, I know how much they can mean to the people who have a connection to them.

I started my business because I felt there was a need for personal, nostalgic art that celebrates memories. I feel the spaces we occupy should be decorated with items that are meaningful to us. I’m not a fan of mass-produced “art” sold at big-box stores. Instead, the things we surround ourselves with should not only make us happy, but also tell our unique stories. The small size of my art makes them fun to collect. You can tuck them into spots all over your home, or hang a group of them on a wall for a big impact. They also make fantastic gifts, especially for weddings, graduations, and other milestone-marking occasions.

My tiny digital illustrations are crisp, vivid, and cute, and celebrate landmarks that are historic, quirky, and everything in between. When you set misty eyes on a particular State Icon, or share the hilarious connection you have to one, it motivates me to draw even more. There are currently more than 500 landmarks (and other fun illustrations) in the United Goods collection, and that number is continuously growing.