product design
The first major project in Design was product design, and to begin that process, we created mood boards. A mood board is basically a visual collection of images, colors, fonts, logos, and design ideas that helps guide the overall style of a project. It gives you a clear sense of direction before you start creating the final product. For my project, I created a fictional cocktail company called Sundown Crafted Cocktails. My mood board included different cocktail styles, color schemes, fonts, and general vibes that inspired the look I wanted for my brand.
artist statement
After that, I created a logo for the company, designing the word “Sundown” so the two parts of the W looked like martini glasses. From there, I developed two drink flavors: Pineapple Spritz and Dirty Twist. I designed the cans, including the ingredients and drink visuals on the front, and then built the packaging around those ideas using Placeit. I also expanded the branding by placing the logo on items like a beach towel and baseball cap, which helped reinforce the fun, beachy, lifestyle-focused identity of the brand.
magazine ad
Using the branding I had already developed, I created a magazine ad for Sundown Crafted Cocktails. The ad featured both drink cans, along with a background using palm leaves and a cutting board to keep the tone consistent with the rest of the brand. I also included the slogan, “One more drink before it gets dark,” which tied into the name and mood of the product. This project was a chance to turn my brand into something that felt real and polished, like it could actually exist in a magazine.
artist statement
movie poster
For the movie poster project, I started with another mood board, this time focusing on mafia movie visuals, ghost imagery, and color palettes that would fit the tone of my worldbuilding project. I wanted the poster to feel dark, mysterious, and tied to the story I had already built.
artist statement
Using those ideas, I created a poster for Red Dead with the tagline “Well, some legacies refuse to end.” The poster features a translucent mafia figure overlooking the city of Chicago, which connects directly to my worldbuilding concept. I also added credits and logos at the bottom to make it feel like a real movie poster.
artist statement
reflection
What I valued most from these projects was the freedom to build something from the ground up and keep expanding on it. I liked how each production connected to the last one, because it let me create a brand and a story that felt cohesive. I also enjoyed being able to add visuals to ideas I had already developed, since that made the work feel more personal and creative. Overall, this unit helped me grow more confident in Illustrator, Photoshop, and in turning abstract ideas into finished designs.