Illustrator NoGood Gathers Five Years of Retro-Tech Art in a Self-Published Monograph

Amsterdam-based illustrator Thomas Rohlfs, aka NoGood, has released The NoGood Book, a self-published monograph celebrating five years of creative work and the independent philosophy behind it. Crowdfunded and produced in a limited edition of 400 copies, the 272-page publication brings together illustrations, personal projects, behind-the-scenes sketches and essays exploring creativity, technology and the open web.

Thomas’s distinctive visual style combines retro-futuristic aesthetics, cyberpunk influences and a fascination with vintage technology. His illustrations feature expressive characters, intricate electronic machinery and fictional worlds filled with cables, screens and cryptic symbols. Beyond showcasing his artwork, the book reflects Thomas’s commitment to creative independence and open-source culture. It includes contributions from writers and thinkers such as Cory Doctorow, Douglas Rushkoff and Joan Westenberg, exploring ideas around digital ownership, technology and the creator economy.

For Thomas, self-publishing belongs in the same toolbox as a personal website, a podcast or a VPN: permissionless, grassroots and owned by the person using it. Instead of feeding the algorithm a steady stream of fleeting content, he committed to one heavy, fixed object. It’s a monograph that doubles as a manifesto, making its case for ownership simply by being finished.

The NoGood Book is available exclusively through NoGood’s website. Artwork by NoGood / Photography by Lilia Luganskaia.

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