This project was a collaboration with San Diego State University’s Sage Project, which facilitates sustainable learning through community-based projects. The Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve, one of Sage’s collaborations, was in need of design work. The Reserve serves as a protected site for the research and education of Southern California ecosystems. Due to the increased involvement of students at the reserve and the need for greater community awareness, it needed consistent branding. Two logos were requested—one for the Reserve, and another for the fruit grove within it. I also designed a homepage, business cards, promotional items, tabling setup, and fruit crate labels.

The goal of this project was to create packaging for a fair trade, organic chocolate bar. I was given the liberty to choose a country of origin for the chocolate to serve as inspiration for the design. It was also important that the ethical and sustainable characteristics of the chocolate bar were reflected in the packaging through limited color, materials, and minimal use of glue. I chose to create a chocolate bar produced in Ghana and was inspired by the country’s colorful textiles and beautiful environment. I developed the concept for a sustainable chocolate company, Tom Tum, derived from a word in the Twi language for “dark”. In addition to chocolate bar packaging, I created an outdoor advertisement and a sample Instagram post that reinforces the brand.

The objective of this project was to create a souvenir for a particular San Diego destination and design its packaging. It was especially important for this package to both protect the souvenir, and display it attractively so it would be purchased. I chose the San Diego neighborhood of Hillcrest and wanted to create a souvenir that reflected one of its most popular events—the farmers market. Upon visiting Hillcrest, I noticed that sustainability and art were two common themes integrated with many of the businesses there. With this as a consideration, I designed a reusable tote bag and packaging using an old thrift store tee, carrots, beets, and chipboard.

Mohawk Paper distributes a publication for their patrons called The Maker Quarterly. Featuring various artists and craftspeople, these publications share the stories of fellow creatives and their work—printed to showcase Mohawk’s beautiful selection of textured and colored papers. This project was a nod to Mohawk’s inspiring creativity, and an attempt to showcase one of San Diego’s many makers. It was also an opportunity to explore experimental page layout and typography to tell a story. I chose to research the popular fizzy drink “kombucha”, as I had just begun home-brewing at the time. I researched, interviewed a local brewer, and created this book.

The idea for this application was born during my first year at San Diego State University. I entered SDSU as a transfer student and felt a little out of place in a classroom full of students who already knew each other. I found that there were things I had yet to learn about design that other students had already learned in previous semesters, and wished for a way to help fill in the gaps. As I bonded with my talented professors and fellow classmates, I realized how important human connection was in the education process. Therefore, I created the concept of Design Den as a platform for students to bond and help each other as they learn graphic design. Through the application, they can ask questions, receive feedback on projects, search for design podcasts, share inspiring images, and even learn design through a monthly educational series.