MTV used to be known for music, until it transformed into a completely unrecognizable form of reality TV and any other miscellaneous genre that seemed outlandish and “fresh.” So when MTV started its own Classics channel, appealing to its original target demographic, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to create a campaign showcasing the true meaning of MTV. This is why the tagline “The M Stands For Music” seemed so appropriate, for it takes a stand against the reality tangent and brings the brand back to its roots. It’s defiant, sassy, but real. It’s the heart of the brand.

Now MTV is self-aware of their complete 180, so such a campaign concept isn’t farfetched . Their attempts to bring back the oldies is tapping into the market demand for throwback materials and media. Millennials are now increasing in workforce numbers, and thus, they are gravitating towards the nostalgic subject matter of their childhood. Across social media platforms, people comment on missing the old MTV, demonstrating the demand for the original channel.

The illustrative quality of the campaign adds a fun and quirky twist to the brand’s imagery. Highlighting fun bands from the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s, each ad presents different color schemes. CDs were photographed from my personal collection, with the intent of adding that nostalgic feel. The CDs represent the audio quality while the illustrations represent the visuals, encompassing MTV’s music videos. After donning these fun t-shirts, lounging on these fluffy pillows, and interacting with the social media channels, you’ll feel so nostalgic, you’ll be shouting “I want my MTV!”

Tinder has gained a reputation for being a “hook up app.” Sure, many users use the app for such a purpose, but there are still those that want to go on a date first. In fact, more and more Tinder profiles are including “not looking for hook ups” in their bios. Millennials looking for love do still exist, despite the misconception that the generation is hookup obsessed. We’re not saying a little fun can’t come out of a date, but at least try to woo before the proverbial “screw.” Save the date and help restore some faith in the dating world.

Such a campaign aims to improve the brand’s image, as it competes with apps like OkCupid and Bumble who pride themselves on not being for hook ups. The raunchy undertones of the campaign keep Tinder’s edgy persona, while still promoting some fun. The inclusion of the Trojan condom connotes the sexual aspect, while still promoting safe sex practices. Visual cues such as the wine and rose promote the sense of romanticism, helping to boost Tinder’s dating reputation.

The cheeky copy ads to the humor, appealing to the app’s adult audience. Considering the app is partially supported by advertising, it only made sense to partner with Trojan condoms for this particular campaign. It’s about bringing some decency back into the dating world, and Tinder should help take that step.

Music Credit: “The Bad Touch” by The Bloodhound Gang

Tiffany & Co. has always been an iconic brand. People think diamonds and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” when they hear its name. Unfortunately, the brand has been struggling to connect to a younger, ever-changing audience, where tradition and a “classic” look aren’t as widely celebrated as being different and standing out. 

One of the companies biggest strengths is in its packaging, where it’s signature Blue Box and Blue color are trademarked. So I decided to freshen up Tiffany’s packaging a bit, making it more photogenic and interesting without losing the elegant feel of the brand. The color is the same, with the white ribbon still being utilized on the handles of the bags, but the pattern is a fun and airy. It’s an homage to springtime, with the birds chirping and leaves returning to barren branches.

For this stylistic update, the logo’s font is script-like and loose, far from its original serif typeface. This version is more for packaging purposes, as a part of the surrounding ink work. The patterns were hand-inked then scanned to make the entire design feel organic and natural.

Catcalling is often perceived as harmless. Because they're just words, right? Well, what if those nasty words and aggressive behavior were directed towards underage girls?

This fictional campaign aims to bring awareness to the fact that men could be directing their sexual comments towards minors, which could be mentally scarring and traumatizing. I focused on this tangent because it serves as more of a shock factor. Many men, however unfortunate, do not care about sexualizing adult women. So the first step towards making them rethink catcalling is by using this less explored perspective.

The campaign utilizes #declawthecatcall as a call for change. Men should feel icky when realizing they are sexualizing 11 and 12 year olds, no matter their mature appearance.

The faded words in the background aim to visually make the composition feel cluttered and overwhelming, mimicking how girls feel when they are catcalled. It is a bombardment of text, much like a catcall is a bombardment of gross, inappropriate dialogue. Bright colors were chosen to present the content as initially inviting. It feels fun and childlike, intriguing the viewer to take a look, then hits the reader with a sassy, lecturing tone. The visuals are almost adolescent, and yet, possess a darker commentary upon a closer look.

It needed to be done. Seriously. To all the millennials obsessed with posting pics of your "Pumpkin Spiced Latte": Stop lying to yourselves. You don't like the taste of pumpkin, you like the taste of attention. That paragraph of hashtags isn't fooling anyone, #fake.

I set out to demonstrate the sheer absurdity of it all by creating these spoof ads. Modeled to look like actual Starbucks advertisements at first glance, the warm feel of the photography and autumn colors juxtapose the scathing tagline "so artificial, it's fake." Yes, you can chuckle,  you're allowed to dislike this cup of mud.

The typeface is light and flourishy. Very appealing on the surface, much like the drink itself. If you still insist on drinking #PSL because you #doreallyloveit, please show some restraint and don't post to social media. Better yet, don't let anyone know you drink this fake pumpkin. Don a disguise while ordering and leave the establishment. You have a reputation to uphold.

*Creative Quarterly 49 Graphic Design Category Winner

Branding for a fictional hair salon inspired by powdered wigs from the Baroque Era, but with a modern take. The salon has a touch of elegance with a quirky twist.

Intricate wig designs were studied and then edited down for product simplicity. After coming up with the tagline "Whatever you dig, we have that wig," I thought it would be fun to model some of the wig designs after Parisian symbols (the Eiffel Tower, a poodle, the Arc de Triomphe), which added to the ridiculous fun of the product line. Historically, these wigs were made to make a statement, with the wealthy using such wigs to top one another in extravagance. This concept spoofs such frivolous behavior and celebrates its sheer prodigality.

Symmetry was implemented in the product's shapes and forms to maintain a sense of class and elegance, along with the use of a modern, scripted typeface. To embolden the design, larger scale and tilting of the type forms helped to modernize the product.

Each item in the product line was designed to mimic the luxury of Baroque hairstyling, while keeping the feel of the logo with the bold spirals. The monochromatic palette helped draw more attention to the shapes and forms, with the white providing needed contrast.

Whiskey Wolf is a fictitious country music bar located in Austin, Texas. Known as the “Live Music Capital of the World,” this venue fits right into the exciting nightlife of the area. This establishment features live music every night until 4am, with performances by known and virtually up-and-coming country artists. The music ranges from pop and rock to more traditional country variations.

A quirky typographic style with a fun and modern southern flair played a large role in this location's branding. I wanted the type to help create the shapes and forms, as demonstrated in the logo's neckerchief. The skewed type forms with their jumbled appearance mimic being intoxicated. Because the brand is based around a drunk wolf, this seemed fitting. The letters' placements also allude to dancing, a central aspect of the bar's live music theme.

A cream color paired with a deep warm brown helped create a warm country feel, with the turquoise and bright orange adding a bit of a modern punch. 

Drinking in excess is considered a sin to some, but Devil's Due celebrates going beyond your comfort zone, hence "making a deal with the devil." Each drink has a unique theme centered around magic potions: Poison, Love Charm, Levitation, Immortality, Transformation, and Mind Reading.

Inspired by voodoo culture, I aimed to take the seemingly dark subject matter and lighten the mood. With a target audience of young millennials, I utilized eccentric illustrations to highlight the themes of each individual bottle. Each bottle showcases a different character from the hellish underworld, with a humorous twist. This isn't the devil you fear, this is the devil you want to grab a beer with. 

The slightly gilded typeface adds a bit of tradition (a nod to traditional beer design), especially paired with the crest shaped labels. Playing with this boxed in design space, I illustrated off-centered compositions, for a more dynamic approach.