Costco Packaging

 

I recently worked on a project for a Costco test sale. It includes a gift box for a handbag, hang tag and a pallet skirt. As this is a high-end product with a corresponding price tag, we needed a sleek box that matches the quality of the handbag.The box is sturdy, wrapped in black paper with gold foil lettering.

As well, we liked the idea of the box being not only a display piece for the handbag, but also a gift box for the upcoming holiday season. This is why is has an open display for the customer to see, touch and open the bag, with a lid to use as a gift box. A small hangtag shows off the interior features of the bag. The pallet skirt grabs your attention in the busy warehouse setting with a striking lifestyle image.

The box is selling now in select stores around the country!

Recent Links

A quick roundup of links I’ve found interesting:

Incredible installations. New Shadow Sculptures Built from Discarded Wood. via colossal

Even without a baby, I found the before/after shots of this living room very inspiring. baby proofing your stylish living room.

Creature Cups on etsy: A clever way to drink your coffee and tea - with a small ceramic friend in your cup! These would make great gifts. via colossal

I find brand guidelines to be incredibly interesting to read through. Here David Airey has compiled quite a list: Brand identity style guides.

Recap

FOOD:
Last weekend I tried out Humble Potato, in Westchester. A relatively new restaurant, it provides a Japanese twist on casual American favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. I tried the Katsu Sando, which has buttermilk panko-crusted fried chicken, yuzu-jalapeño slaw and tonkatsu sauce. My husband tried the Yakiniku Sando: fresh Rib-Eye beef with homemade Yakiniku marinade, grilled onion, scallion, shichimi red pepper on a garlic-butter roll. We enjoyed it quite a bit, and I couldn’t help but remark on the strong branding.

WORK:
Gift box I helped design (contains handbag) coming soon to select Costco stores! Very excited! Full writeup coming soon. pic.twitter.com/D8Ov8MKQ

LIFE:
My life for the past few weeks has been dominated by preparing for a major change: I’m starting a freelance graphic design career. I’ll still be working my current full time job, but the plan right now is to work on projects in my spare time. So what have I been doing? I’ve created a new logo. I’m revamping my website from the ground up. I’m compiling contacts. I’m being social on places like Twitter that I never thought I’d get into. I’m making business cards. I’m trying to build up my brand. It’s been a lot of hard work, but I’m excited. Will this work? Who knows? Whatever happens I’m proud of the progress I’ve made - this means a lot to me and I’m doing everything I can to do it right. I’m not nearly ready yet, but the plan is for completion in early December, then a hard push after the holidays. I’ll be putting the word out there “officially” (probably through email) once I have everything in place. Wish me luck.

WIP Fruit Tarts (4)

I was able to work on this fruit tarts drawing again a couple weeks ago - I added in the rest of the crust, finished up the fruit in the background, and added detail to the wooden surface. I would like to continue to refine it, but the impatient side of me wants to work on something new! I don't think I've ever worked on one piece as long as I have this one (which is mostly due to the fact I'll do 1 hour every few weeks). 

WIP Fruit Tarts (3)

Made some more progress today during lunch! I probably shouldn't make a post every time I have a chance to work on it but I'm having too much fun. I'm purposely working around the tart crusts, they are giving me trouble. I'm also wondering how to properly create the blurry portions - procreate has a blur tool but I'm hesitant to blur directly on the drawing in case I change my mind about it later. I'll have to learn how to copy layers.

WIP Fruit Tarts (2)

I haven't had as much time to work on this as I'd like (wedding is soon!) so not much progress has been made. But I am proud of myself for not abandoning it yet!

WIP Fruit Tarts sketch

If you love seeing works in progress as much as I do then this is for you!

This sketch is using a photo I took in January of some homemade fruit tarts. I never thought I would enjoy fruits in my dessert, but these tarts were perfectly sweet and refreshing. The best part was decorating the tarts with the fruit pieces - I tried to make each one unique.

I ended up inserting the photo into my drawing program then tracing a rough outline, which you can see. I've never liked tracing in any part of my drawing but I figured this is more of an exercise where I get more accustomed to iPad sketching and my new stylus. I tend to get caught up in perfecting the details and neglecting the overall image (so I may have an awesome-looking eye but weird proportions) so it's nice to be able to focus on what's really fun.

Tiger iPad sketch

Here is my second iPad sketch using procreate. In my younger days tigers were my favorite subject! I have always loved stripes, I guess.

Sketching on the iPad

Here is my first iPad sketch, using the app Procreate. I would say it took about an hour to do. I used my fingers to draw this, which was unnatural at first, but you get used to it quickly. Procreate has a bunch of preset brushes and the ability to use layers (which definitely helped me out in this sketch). I decided to go in 100% and buy a stylus, which should be arriving soon. I'm hoping this will help me start sketching more!

I also tried out Paper, which was really fun to use. I love the idea of making travel sketchbooks or even notebooks to jot down new project ideas. I am completely digital in my to-do lists and planning, so I can see myself using this regularly along with everything else.

Bird in flight pencil sketch

1/25/12.
Quick pencil sketch using Creature by Andrew Zuckerman as a reference.
It's been several years since I've attempted to draw anything - and my rustiness shows! I'll need to do a lot more sketches before I feel comfortable with a pencil again.

New Camera

Since receiving a new camera (Canon Rebel XSi) for my upcoming birthday last week, I've been busy taking pictures.

Last weekend (28th) my boyfriend and I went to Joshua tree, and it was gorgeous as always.


There were dozens of butterflies on the ground by the Cholla Cactus Garden, in the parking area. I believe the heat from the many cars coming and going wasn't very good for them - most of them were dead or barely alive. It was sad.


The loud buzzing was disturbing at first, but I got some great shots of the bees up-close.


We encountered a field of yellow wildflowers coming from the South entrance.


An ocotillo plant, very unusual!

Coaster paintings

2.5" x 2.5" acrylic paintings for Lori's birthday, inserted into glass coasters.

Unfinished sketch

Quick sketch of a Tauren I did during Blizzcon, waiting in line for the concert and for a little bit before the costume concert.

New Website Design

New Website Design, originally uploaded by lagoon.

All completed except for the art page (shown here), but I don't expect that to take much longer. The ocean waves are my favorite part, hopefully I can keep that element in future designs also.

illidan

illidan, originally uploaded by lagoon.

Illidan from Warcraft. I knew nothing about him before, though I was familiar with his image (the foot-tall figurine as well as the full-size statue). After drawing him I read his background, which was actually pretty interesting.

I did this in my new pocket moleskine sketchbook, referencing www.worldofwarcraft.com/downloads/wallpapers/images/black...
I dislike doing pen drawings very much (as you can see in the numerous mistakes), and I wished for some acrylics so I could do the original piece justice.

UntitledSea.com Redesign

octoct_2, originally uploaded by lagoon.

Initial concept for newer webpage design.

untitledsea

untitledsea, originally uploaded by lagoon.

I created this for my new portfolio website, which is finally complete! Go to www.untitledsea.com !

By complete I mean, of course, the first stages of it (as it will be ever-evolving I'm sure). For now everything that I want to be in it is there, though hopefully in the future I can continue to tweak closer to what I really want.

tiny plant

tiny plant, originally uploaded by lagoon.

A photo I took while in San Diego this past weekend.

Photos

Tulips from my birthday.


My house.


Kitchen, a plant in SD.


Family.

1st post

to test.