Islands Team Journal
Ajla Sundstrom Interview
WE’RE CHATTING WITH ISLAND’S SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER AJLA SUNDSTROM ABOUT ALL THINGS CREATIVE, TRAVEL, FASHION & MORE.
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
Hi, I’m Ajla (pronounced eye-la), and I’m the girl behind all things social and graphic design for Islands! I live in Wilmington, North Carolina with my husband and spend a lot of my time at the beach, reading fiction books, traveling, thrifting, going for walks, and looking up interior design inspiration for our future home.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CREATIVE BACKGROUND.
I’ve always loved all things creative! I went to college for fine art and focused primarily on printmaking and photography. That’s where I first started developing a passion for shooting film, and it’s still what I primarily work with to this day. After college, I started teaching myself everything I now know about graphic design and website design. Over the years, I’ve worked with many brands crafting their brand identities, designing and building out websites, and creating photo content. I’m now loving working with Islands on social media and graphic design! It’s been such a great fit and natural transition to taking over this role. We’ve got some fun projects coming up, so stay tuned!
DESCRIBE YOUR AVERAGE DAY.
My mornings usually start with breakfast and tea followed by working on whatever my daily tasks are for social media and graphic design. I try to carve out some time in the day for a pilates session and at least a little bit of sunshine. After work, I cook dinner with my husband and do something relaxing like go for a walk, sit at the beach, or just snuggle up and watch a show.
WHATS YOUR CURRENT FAVORITE ISLANDS LOOK?
My favorite is definitely the Zulu & Zephyr knit set! It is so soft, comfortable, and perfect for autumn. It’s the kind of look I could spend all day lounging in and then run over to the farmers market and still feel cute!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR RECENT TRAVELS.
I recently spent time in the Bay Area (one of my fav places) for a little getaway with my husband and a family wedding. A few recommendations: grab breakfast and a loaf of bread from Tartine, get your caffeine fix from The Coffee Movement, drive over to Ocean Beach for pretty views and a stroll before heading north along Highway 1 for stunning views and a more low-key coastal experience. Point Reyes National Seashore is absolutely stunning, and if you find yourself in the Napa Valley with a sweet tooth, you have to grab some pastries from Bouchon Bakery.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR MUST HAVE PIECES FOR FALL?
I’m loving the classics! A chunky black loafer, high quality knit sweater, and an oversized denim jacket.
TELL US ABOUT WILMINGTON!
Wilmington is such a sweet little beach town but growing bigger everyday! The downtown has a lot of historic charm, a scenic boardwalk along the river, and some delicious seafood. The beaches are beautiful and perfect for surfing, shelling, suntanning, or going for a refreshing dip. My ideal day here would look like grabbing coffee from Casa Blanca, hitting up a couple thrift shops, going for a walk on the beach, and ending the day with oysters at Seabird downtown.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THE NEXT YEAR?
I’m looking forward to getting moved into our very first house and making it feel like home. I have a ton of ideas for projects around the house, and I’m actually so excited to learn a bit about things like woodworking and tiling. I’m also dreaming of finally having a garden and a little art studio.