Hi, I’m Hayley a freelance brand designer & audiovisual artist.

I'm also the founder of Studio Ayl. We specialise in branding with heart and strategy 💜🧠, crafting entire visual systems that bring projects to life through thoughtful, accessible design for growing businesses 🌱

Studio Ayl is a graphic design studio by Hayley Cantor (me). While it’s run by one person, collaboration is at the heart of everything, from close work with clients, to partnerships with specialists. It just doesn't feel right to say *I when really it's always *we.

We're passionate about working with small businesses, cultural organisations & musical brands, supporting people to get started on their own projects. We especially enjoy creating entire visual systems & worlds, especially musical ones.

Where are you from?

I'm from a quaint little village near Southampton in the UK. 🇬🇧 We invented the hovercraft and Titanic sailed from the Solent, so you could say I’m kind of nautical. 🌊 I’ve been based in sunny Barcelona for the past 16 years (time flies when you’re having fun) 🌴

What did you study?

Psychology at university, because I love knowing what makes people tick. 👀 I’ve had a pretty colourful career journey working in everything from optics, mental health services to teaching and can honestly say I’ve never had a job that I didn’t enjoy. These experiences have taught me the need to be as compassionate as you can with everybody you meet, because everybody has their own story.

What do you do in your free time?

I enjoy making vibrant and colourful digital illustrations, animations, as well as analog collages and painting. I really love doing live audiovisual performance, working with abstract shapes ➿ and a lot of saturated colours. I am passionate supporting people to get started on their own projects and building communities. What I most enjoy is creating entire visual systems and worlds, that are playful, bold and promote freedom. 🌈 

What are the biggest influences on your work?

It's always been music 💿  You can often find me hanging out on the balcony Sala Apolo, working under the artistic name VJ Ayl. In 2011–2021, I also co-ran a digital magazine promoting international audiovisual culture called Audiovisual City.

Any random facts about you?

They say the human body is made of 60% water, mine is probably 60% tea ☕.  I’ve been writing diaries in multiple formats since age 7 ✏️(!) and have recently rediscovered my love for painting 💙

Thank you for supporting my work and sharing conversations— the internet is a huge place and I’m super grateful that you are interacting with my tiny little corner of it ✌️

Apart from studio work, I’m available for...

...talks, workshops & collaborations— I'd love to have a chat about what inspires you.

👋 Feel free to book a chat with me here if you think we would be able to help each other grow:
https://calendly.com/studio_ayl/30min