“Unachievable Satisfaction”
Italian designer, illustrator, and self-named “creative mind” Elia Colombo (aka Gebe) believes that “life’s too short to get a real job.” This free-spirited motto led him to where he is today, allowing him to express his thoughts and creativity on a daily basis. He combines his skills in graphic design with his interest in philosophy to create thought-provoking conceptual illustrations. Each colorful, vector artwork illustrates the perils of modern society, and points out relatable feelings and experiences along with a good dose of humor and irony.
Colombo’s themes include societal pressure, mental health issues, and the negative effects of social media addiction. One image, titled Breaking the Rule, illustrates the stages of life as a conveyer belt. Human-like characters are seen passing through each moment—from school, to work, to family, and eventually death. However, one rebel tries to escape, causing a “system error.” Other images illustrate the loneliness that some might experience while immersed in the world of social media, from forever chasing “likes” to the constant upkeep of online personas.
Although Colombo’s portfolio illustrates many negative traits of today’s society, he hopes his work will inspire people to “step outside of the box.” He says, “Don’t try to be good, just try to be different!”
You can see more of Colombo’s illustrations on Instagram.
Italian illustrator Elia Colombo creates colorful vector artwork that illustrates themes from modern society.
“Breaking The Rule”
“Who Am I?”
His conceptual illustrations point out relatable feelings and experiences along with a good dose of humor and irony.
“Digital Illusions”
“Thought Control”
“Back To School”
“The Lost Sheep”
“New Followers”
“The Solo Traveller”
“Social Workout”
“How Designers Look At Curves”
“Culture”
“Forever”
“We Can Undo It!”
“Read More Books”
“Killing Time”
“Stolen Identity”
“Everyday Mission”
“Humanity, A Degenerative Disease”
“Feed Your Mind”
“Getting A Job”
“Dream Big, It’s Free”
Elia Colombo: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Behance
My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Elia Colombo.
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