There’s something quietly magical about sipping your morning coffee from a mug adorned with aardvarks. Not just any aardvarks—stylised, patterned, and repeated in a groovy green-yellow op art-inspired wallpaper. These mugs aren’t just functional; they’re daily reminders that even the most uncommon creatures deserve a place at our breakfast table.
This design, now available on Redbubble, is part of my ongoing mission to shine a spotlight on uncommon animals—starting with the humble, often-overlooked aardvark.
Why Aardvarks?
My connection to aardvarks goes all the way back to high school. One of my favourite projects was creating a fictional record label called Aardvark Records, complete with psychedelic swirls and a trippy aardvark head front and center. Ever since, the aardvark has been a recurring character in my creative world—a sort of underground mascot for weird, wonderful, and slightly absurd artistic expression.
When I started creating my kids’ book Uncommon Animals of the Alphabet, the aardvark naturally led the A-team. But it didn’t stop there. I wanted these animals to live outside the pages, to sneak into daily life in the form of patterns, wallpaper, t-shirts, and yes—mugs.
Turning Uncommon into Everyday
The idea behind the Aardvark Wallpaper Mug was simple: take an animal most people rarely think about, and turn it into a functional, visually bold design. By doing this, we nudge awareness. We start conversations. Someone sees your mug and says, “What is that?” and boom—you’re talking about aardvarks. You’re sharing stories. You’re helping these oddball creatures inch into our collective consciousness.
So, what makes this mug so great (besides the soulful aardvark eyes)?
- Available in Standard (325 ml) and Tall (444 ml) sizes.
- Dishwasher and microwave safe.
- Made from durable ceramic with vivid, wraparound print.
- The print is designed to last without fading, even with daily use.
- Quality assured with Redbubble’s print-on-demand model—produced close to where you order, reducing shipping emissions and waste.
These aren’t mass-produced mugs sitting in a dusty warehouse. They’re printed fresh for each order, ensuring vibrant colours and a personal touch every time.
Why Redbubble?
I chose Redbubble for a few key reasons:
- Artist-friendly: They support independent creators by letting us upload our work and reach a global audience.
- Quality control: Their printing process is top-notch. I’ve ordered from them myself, and the colors stay bold, the lines sharp.
- Sustainability: With local fulfillment, there’s less environmental impact—aligning with my broader mission of helping both endangered animals and struggling artists thrive.
So next time you sip your tea or coffee, why not do it from a mug that starts conversations and supports uncommon creativity? Bring a little aardvark into your kitchen, and help these incredible animals get the attention they deserve—one cup at a time.
Kids Book Illustrator Andy C Marshall 