How to Stay Sane, tip. no 6. We know there’s a lot of resources to immerse ourselves in, actions to take, and a relentless news cycle to keep up with. In order to stay activated for the long-term, we hope that you are able to take some time to take care of yourself, whatever that looks like for you.
A note from our founder, @josh.chendesign: we just celebrated our 29th anniversary and have weathered our share of storms, but like many other small businesses find ourselves in uncharted territory. As we’re trying to stay flexible and innovative, we’ve come up with a new initiative called 4-4-4—a sprint-style offering of our services at a new price. Check out the details above and DM us to chat further. Hope you’re staying healthy and well.
We're excited to team up with @project_proceed to help out local small businesses in the form of custom-designed t-shirts! We miss eating at @TrueBurgerOakland with our friends, but they're still open for takeout and now you can slurp milkshakes while also supporting them through the purchase of these tees. Check out further details in the post, and you can shop through the link in our bio. #projectproceed #chendesign
For a storied hotel in Hopland, CA, we experimented with visuals that would appeal to modern-day pioneers, invoking a pleasurable sense of adventure and a contemporary experience of heritage. We accomplished this by bridging the best of the past with the energy of renewal, honoring a living community’s roots — and planting surprises along the way. Check out our explorations further through the link in our bio.
We didn’t realize how our Out of Office zine would feel so fitting for the times, and our limited edition, inaugural Food Issue is now available to order online. Chock full of food-related fun (like ramen hack recipes!), the zine can be yours for only $10, plus postage fees. Link to shop in our bio! #chendesign
Saving what matters in these times has taken on new meaning, beyond the original intent of @stasherbag #SaveWhatMatters campaign, and we're inspired to see Stasher continue making moves for healthy people, along with a healthy planet. Our work in crafting handwritten logos, illustrations, and infographics was done with those same values of generosity, community, and interconnectedness in mind. Let’s take care of each other. View more from the project through link in bio. #chendesign
Stasher is on a mission to reduce the use of single-use plastics and their harmful effects on the earth, and Save What Matters is their campaign to empower people to join them in their efforts. We partnered with @stasherbag to bring the look and feel of #SaveWhatMatters to life, and are excited to share more soon. #chendesign
We provided custom illustrations featuring adorable animals in their natural habitats for @alaffia’s Baobab Baby and Kids line in order to better emotionally connect with customers. Throughout this whole process, we immersed ourselves in the roots and essence of the brand, and our team is proud to be creative partner to Alaffia and support its mission of advancing education, sustainable living, and gender equality to African communities. To see the full case study, click through to the link in our profile! #alaffia #chendesign
Our task was to solve the challenge of the complexity and scale of our client’s extensive offerings, and we united six different collections—each with their distinct audiences, multiple lines and scents—cohesively under one parent brand. For @alaffia’s Authentic African Black Soap collection, we customized letterforms that meld a love for handcrafted tradition with a modern African-tastemaker ethos. Read more about our process through the link in our profile.
We were charged to “bring back the soul” of the @Alaffia brand through reimagining its identity and packaging, and are excited to share the outcome of our partnership! Alaffia empowers women’s futures and entire communities in Togo, West Africa through their social enterprise model and we wanted to provide unmistakable brand recognition through a contemporary and bold, yet refined and joyful look. Check out the full case study through the link in our profile.
One of OOO’s articles reveals the surprisingly plentiful connections @josh.chendesign has with the culinary world. We asked some lighthearted questions to some celebrated chefs and so we’ll ask you too. What’s your guilty pleasure food? Let us know in the comments below for a chance to win one of five copies of our zine! Ends 2/12.
“Constraints actually help the creative process,” says our principal @josh.chendesign on the blending of science, art and design, “because without constraints, you don’t force yourself to think about how you can create something outside the box or differently.”⠀ ⠀ The team had fun stretching beyond the familiar full-color comfort zone by selecting and restricting our design to two striking solid inks that would blend into rich duotones and subtle overprinting possibilities for our first OOO zine.⠀ ⠀ Copies hit the streets and a mailbox near you any day. Look for yours!
Introducing Out of Office, a Chen Design team-wide collaboration in the form of a zine. Our first issue celebrates food—our favorite, not-just-fancy fare that warms our bellies and fills our hearts (or is it the other way around?). We’ll be sharing a more in-depth look inside the zine’s pages, but for now, just a tantalizing peek. #chendesign
See how CDA created a buzz for @JohnMastersOrganics and the new Honey & Hibiscus advanced hair care collection. We directed all photography and created a sensory in-store experience that showcases natural ingredients. View the full case study by clicking the link in the bio. #creativestudio #studiolife #artdirection #designstudio #designagency #brandagency #wellness #beauty #johnmastersorganics #perfectlynatural #perfectlynaturalbeauty #organichaircare #naturalhaircare #naturalhair
“CDA has been an incredible partner for us in bringing this brand to life. From day one, they dug deep to really understand what we were looking for. Their vast experience and depth of team talent, coupled with their thought-provoking partnership style, is rare and powerful.”—Cindy Feinauer, GM of Purist
Our creative campaign to launch the Purist brand and its first release brought together CDA’s expertise in powerful ways. We provided integrated strengths in photography, video, messaging, and developed the identity and brand voice across print catalog, ads, trade show booth, and environmental graphics.
In a climate of booming construction, we set apart Build Group from its competitors by tapping into its founders’ gutsy but professional personality, telling their story in compelling ways. Our choice for the striking, electric blue enlivens Build Group’s brand identity in the digital space. Each landing page features an unconventional but captivating grid layout that showcases an impressive range of projects. Robust project filtering makes it easy for users to explore their interests, find relevant work, and connect to appropriate contacts. Take a further look through the link in our profile! (3/3)
Our goal was to develop a seamless user experience and robust brand touchpoint attractive to potential partners and employees. In order to do so, we crafted Build Group's overarching brand voice and identified core values through a series of strategy workshops, honing in a clear point of view. (2/3)
When it comes to constructing skyscrapers, modern commercial offices, and detailed luxury interiors, Build Group is right at home. We completed an overhaul of the company's website to serve as brand ambassador and powerful sales and recruitment tool for the growing years ahead. On the homepage, we captured the dynamism and grand scale of the company’s work using dramatic drone footage, shot by @mattbeardsley. Take a further look through the link in our profile. (1/3)
Work in progress: we're currently re-designing a website for a client of ours who deeply values the creative process. We created these graphic elements to represent multiple forms of artistry, exploring the messiness and imperfection that comes with every creative endeavor. Excited to share more soon.
Located in the heart Southern Belize, @copaltreelodge is an award-winning and world-class destination focused on sustainability, community, and quality. We designed a comprehensive brand system including custom illustrations, typography, and color palette that captures a sense of place and evokes wanderlust.
For @puristcollective’s launch at #OutdoorRetailer, we designed a booth experience to seamlessly introduce the Purist brand and new products to attendees. Our goal was to make the Purist booth stand out amongst competitors, taking into consideration every brand touchpoint, from the music to the catalog to the wardrobe, as well as to create an optimal space for potential customers and visitors to interact with the product and the team. Swipe through to see our entire process.
