about anne

Anne Bollman began her career in architecture and interiors, where she designed spaces for corporate clients such as Live Nation Entertainment, The Recording Academy and Participant Media. She went on to be a lead designer for a large gift and stationery manufacturer and had her designs sold in stores such as Barnes & Noble, Papyrus and Pier 1 Imports. With these ten years of diverse corporate experience, Anne brings an informed yet fresh perspective to product design. 

In 2014 Anne started her own studio, Anne Was Here, providing illustrations for products and publications with humor and style that are meant to make you smile. Today Anne's designs can be found in retail stores worldwide on greetings, stationery, wall art, gifts, tableware, storage, bath, home decor, fabric, accessories, apparel, pet products and more. Anne’s debut picture book, Help Find Frank, won the award for Excellence in a Picture Book by The Children’s Literature Council of Southern California in 2019.

SELECT CLIENTS

American Greetings, Andrews McMeel Publishing, Clementine Paper, Clothworks, Comeco, Crowncrafts Infant Products, DEMDACO, Design Design, Design House Greetings, Evergreen Enterprises, Good Dog Deals / 3 Million Dogs, Highlights Magazine, Housewares International, JC Wholesale, Jillson & Roberts, Magenta, Inc., Molly & Rex, Mpix, NoJo, Oopsy Daisy, Orange Circle Studio, Papyrus, Pearhead, Punch Studio, Quarto Publishing, Riverside Greetings, Seattle's Best Coffee, Sock It To Me, Southbound Magazine, Sterling Publishing, Studio Oh!, Sur La Table, Sterling Publishing, Tri-Coastal Designs & Up With Paper

SELECT RETAILERS

Barnes & Noble, Bristol Farms, British Home Store, Debenham's, Dot & Bo, Dunnes, Francesca's, Homegoods, Indigo, JC Penney's, Kroger, Michaels, Modcloth, Nordstrom Rack, Papyrus, Pier One Imports, Sur La Table, Target, TJ Maxx & Wayfair 

PRESS & PUBLICATIONS

Excellence in a Picture Book Award, The Children’s Literature Council of Southern California - November 2019

Seattle's Best Coffee Commercial, Hero Prop (Boston Terrier Mug) - March 2016

Paint Lab For Kids by Stephanie Corfee, Published by Quarry Books, Featured Artist - December 2015
American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine, Fabric Feature – October 2015 Issue
Dogs Today Magazine, Feature – October 2015 Issue
License Global, Licensing Expo 2015 Show Dailies, Day 3, Pg. 50 – June 11, 2015
Art Buyer Magazine, Feature Pg. 55 – Summer 2015
Total Art Licensing Magazine, Feature Pg. 60 – Summer 2015
Annie Troe Blog, Artist Spotlight – April 24th, 2015
Design Milk Blog, Product Feature – April 16th, 2015
Moyo Magazine, 3 Page Interview – Issue #7 – November 20th, 2014
DIY Network Blog, Made + Remade, Product Feature – October 31, 2014
Design Milk Blog, Product Feature – August 7, 2014
Lovely Ink Project, Featured Designer – July 2014
Make It in Design Blog, Artwork Feature – June 20, 2014
Tigerprint Blog, Designer Spotlight – June 11, 2014
Uppercase Magazine, Surface Pattern Design Guide – Issue #21
Lilla Rogers Blog, Artwork Feature – March 26, 2014
Print & Pattern Blog, Artwork Feature – March 13, 2014
2014 Art & Business of Pattern Design scholarship winner
Moyo Magazine, Designer Feature – Issue #6
Design Milk Blog, Product Feature – November, 2013