Every year, we roll out a brand new theme for NaNoWriMo, complete with a new poster, T-shirts, mugs, and more. Last year, we turned NaNo into a steampunk-influenced, Victorian, anything-could-happen Boundless Novel. This year, we’re inviting you to check out your imagination at “The NaNoWriMo Library.”

Designer Eric Nyffeler shares his inspirations for this year’s beautiful poster, and ruminates on the ideal library:

You did an amazing job of bringing our 2015 theme of “The NaNoWriMo Library” to life. Tell us about the inspiration behind your design!

Every year, we roll out a brand new theme for NaNoWriMo, complete with a new poster, T-shirts, mugs, and more. Last year, we brought NaNo to you in retro 8-bit video game style. This year, we took it back even further, to bring you a steampunk-influenced, Victorian, anything-could-happen Boundless Novel. After all, if there’s anything we’ve learned, it’s that your imaginations are limitless. (And occupied by the occasional dragon.)

Designer Elizabeth Doyle shares her process, and how her work at Simon & Schuster and love for antique books influenced this year’s gorgeous design:

The design this year is beautiful! Will you tell us a little bit about your process for creating the poster for our “Boundless Novel”? 

This year’s Camp NaNoWriMo design was created by Dominic Flask. You can see his “noveling by candlelight” design on this year’s poster, the 2014 T-shirt, and on the badges. After you do that, read about Dominic’s design process and how limitations can enhance his creativity:

When you begin a new creative project, how do you approach it? Are there routines that help ensure productivity?

Each project is always a little bit different in the nuances, but there are some big-picture steps that I try to follow.

First up is always research and development, questions for the client, a review of the customer base and competition, etc.

Second is the creative phase. This usually involves a shallow look at things first to gauge some initial responses. That might include sketches or a mood board type of exercise. The second step also includes the first dive on creativity as well, past the shallow look, but not too full-depth yet.