How to Mix and Match Characters and Objects in Fresh Folk

Fresh Folk is built around two moves: Mix and Match for characters and Make a Scene for objects. Each character ships with multiple poses, outfits, and skin tones, and there are 43 objects to place around them. You combine those parts yourself to build a custom illustration — the library gives you the pieces, not a finished picture.

What you're actually combining

The site describes the library as "an illustration library of people and objects," with two labeled sections:

The "mix and match" idea is the core mechanic: a character isn't a single fixed drawing. The same person can appear in different poses, dressed differently, with a different skin tone. That's what lets one character fit many scenes instead of you hunting for a pre-made illustration that happens to match.

Step-by-step: building a scene

1. Decide the scene first. Before opening anything, write down what the image needs to show — e.g. "a person working at a desk with a plant and a coffee cup." This keeps you from browsing poses aimlessly.
2. Pick your character pose. In Mix and Match, choose the pose that matches the action in your scene (standing, sitting, gesturing, etc.). The pose is the hardest thing to fake later, so choose it first.
3. Set outfit and skin tone. With the pose chosen, select the outfit and skin tone that fit your context. Because these are separate choices, the same pose can read as a completely different person.
4. Add objects from Make a Scene. Place items from the 43 available objects around the character to establish setting and activity. Objects do the storytelling work — a laptop says "office," a mug says "break," a plant says "home."
5. Check the composition as a whole. Look at the combined result and ask whether the pose, outfit, and objects agree with each other. If the pose says "relaxing" but the objects say "meeting," swap one of them.
6. Repeat for additional characters. For multi-person scenes, run steps 2–3 again for each person, varying pose, outfit, and skin tone so they read as distinct individuals.

Expected result: a composed illustration made entirely from library parts, matched to the scene you planned in step 1.

Common snags

• Starting from the assets instead of the scene. Browsing poses first usually leads to a scene that doesn't quite work. Plan the scene, then shop for parts.
• Treating a character as fixed. If a pose doesn't fit, don't abandon the character — change the pose, outfit, or skin tone. That flexibility is the point of Mix and Match.
• Forgetting the objects. A character alone rarely communicates a scene. The 43 objects are what turn a figure into a situation.
• Assuming you can edit the artwork. The library is offered under a No-Derivatives license, so the intended workflow is combining the provided parts, not modifying the illustrations themselves.

Before you build: check your use case

The site states the assets are free or donation for personal or non-commercial use, under a CC Attribution Non-Commercial No-Derivatives 4.0 International License. Donations are handled through Gumroad.

That means:

• Personal or non-commercial projects: fine, with attribution.
• Commercial projects: the stated license is non-commercial, so this isn't covered as described.
• Modifying the artwork: not permitted under No-Derivatives.

If you need something specific that the library doesn't cover, the site offers commissions — you can reach out via the contact links provided (Twitter, Instagram, email, Product Hunt).

Quick decision guide

• Need a scene fast from ready-made parts? Use Mix and Match + Make a Scene as described above.
• Need a character who fits a specific look? Vary pose, outfit, and skin tone rather than searching for a new character.
• Need commercial rights or custom work? The stated license doesn't cover commercial use — look into commissioning instead.

Fresh Folk was created by Leni Kauffman.