A melding of vintage trends and futuristic technology was the inspiration for the March 2024 cover of Scratch magazine, and Gelish nail artists Erin Eng and Vu Nguyen were tasked with creating a set of nails that reflected the theme. The idea was to take a vintage editorial look—think: clean lines, warm pops of color and different textures found in mid-century modern fashion—and pair it with the feel of AI. The play between things that are real and virtual is not only a burgeoning trend, but it’s going to continue to be a part of our lives moving forward; this cover was created to inspire optimism in what’s to come in our not-so-distant future.

Eng and Nguyen collaborated on the artistry of the nails, ultimately deciding on a silver and gold color palette reflected in the model’s wardrobe. But color was not the only defining element on this set: The artists used their precision painting skills to create a vintage-inspired pattern with added texture to create a look that still feels contemporary and wearable for today.