Meet The Noniz
Hi I'm nona!
I’m Nona van Spaandonck, a Dutch illustrator, mural artist and founder of The Noniz. My work is all about creating colourful worlds that encourage adults to reconnect with their inner child. Through murals, illustrations and playful storytelling, I transform walls, objects and brands into experiences that brings play, joy and imagination.
MY Story
Before becoming a full-time artist, I spent more than seven years working in marketing, branding and visual communication. I loved the creative side of my work, but over time I found myself constantly chasing deadlines, goals and productivity. Eventually, I experienced a burnout. I decided to step away from my routine and moved to Indonesia for over 4 years. During that time, I did trainings in yoga, and breathwork. Although those experiences taught me a lot, the biggest breakthrough came in the simplest way possible. One day, I picked up a pen and started doodling.
For the first time in years, I completely lost track of time. I wasn’t trying to achieve anything, I was simply playing again. That single moment changed everything.
The Birth of The Noniz
Those doodles slowly evolved into a colourful universe filled with playful little characters. I named them The Noniz.
Each Noniz has its own personality, emotions and imperfections. Some are curious, some are overwhelmed, some are brave, some are anxious and some simply remind us not to take life too seriously. Together, they represent the different parts of ourselves. The Noniz aren’t perfect. They’re messy, playful, emotional and wonderfully human. Just like us.
More than characters
At first glance, The Noniz may look like funny little creatures.
But behind every character is a message.
A reminder to:
- embrace curiosity;
- make mistakes;
- laugh more;
- create without judgement;
- reconnect with the playful child inside yourself.
I believe many adults don’t stop being creative.
They simply stop giving themselves permission to play.
That’s exactly what The Noniz are here to change.
what I do
Today I work with brands, businesses and public spaces around the world to create:
🎨 Large-scale murals
🖼️ Illustrations
🧠 Visual storytelling
🖌️ Custom canvases
🤝 Brand collaborations
🌍 Public art installations
Why play matters in adulthood
We were all born curious. Able to see magic in the ordinary and explore the world through play. But as we grow up, layers of expectations tell us who we should be. Still, the child within us is there. And play is its language.
