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.

Stephen Gould reached out to us with this challenge: How might our website more fully represent our comprehensive capabilities and expertise without overwhelming or confusing users? Our strategy team sought answers by designing and hosting a two-day workshop to create consensus within the company around a bigger-picture question: how might we tell their story best? Check out the full case study through the link.

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

As a small business, we know what a tough time this has been and will continue to be for others our size. Past and current clients of ours are working hard to continue to bring joy in the form of delicious takeout or delivery, like @craftsmanwolves, @ashateahouse, and @venusspirits. Check out more great businesses on our Stories to support! 📷: @craftsmanwolves, @ashateahouse, and @venusspirits

Webster Eleven is an upcoming mixed-use development near Oakland City Center, and is a modern living community where people can come together to connect, discover, and learn. We worked on naming, branding, and content strategy. Check out the full case study through the link.

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

Alice House is an art deco-inspired residential building in the heart of Downtown Oakland and our team was tasked with bringing the brand to life, from positioning to naming to visual identity. Take a further look at the full case study through the link. #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!

Wishing you and yours holidays filled with good cheer and comforting food. While we’re out of office enjoying time off, smile, because OOO will be coming soon to a mailbox near you.

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

We’re thrilled to be working with the good people at @alaffia, led by Olowo-n’djo Tchala, who walks the talk of equality and empowerment. Give a gift that gives back with their fair trade, handcrafted body, face & hair care. More to be unveiled in 2020.

Behind-the-scenes on a luxury beauty brand we're building. Hits the global market in 2020. ⁠⠀

Taste and see a deliciously fun, food & wine experience in St. Helena at Clif Family Bruschetteria–a food truck for foodies–paired with their unique wine Tasting Room. Our team created the exterior visual experience for this adventurous, sustainability-focused client. 📷: @cliffamily

Where the economy, the environment, and quality of life issues intersect, Next 10 provides tools and data that empower Californians to solve the most pressing issues of our day. We've been partnering with the nonpartisan nonprofit, designing their annual California Green Innovation Index, for 8 years running. Communicating dense, critical information in well-organized, visually compelling ways help hone substantial content to focus their important message. ⁠⠀

Special elections in San Francisco, Piedmont and Dublin are being held next Tuesday, November 5. Find helpful info on SF candidates and local ballot measures through the link in bio. Show up, speak up. ⁠ ⁠

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

Our strategy team recently spent two phenomenal days with Stephen Gould, the largest independent product and packaging solutions provider in the US. We facilitated a two-day design strategy workshop with 13 of their top leaders, diving deep into their website’s user experience. It’s always great to be with clients in person and we’re grateful for the opportunity to experience Stephen Gould's dynamic, people-first culture and continue our partnership building the brand together.

Find @puristcollective online and in retail stores soon, and check out the rest of our case study through the link. #thisispurist

“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 team developed an enduring identity and comprehensive campaign that asserts quiet authority and a bold aesthetic to set @puristcollective apart in the competitive hydration market.

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.

We established Purist’s distinctive voice amid the retail noise by crafting confident, personable copy.

The scope of our work with @puristcollective included extensive brand strategy. We conducted extensive competitive research, built in-depth customer personas, and lay the foundation for a brand identity grounded in the natural world with a contemporary, urban point of view.

“It’s gratifying to bring shape to visionary ideas and collaborate with similarly-minded individuals who hold to high standards of quality. We’ve laid the groundwork and can’t wait to see Purist’s reputation take off and this brand we created, out in the wild.” —@tracywhitetaylor, Design Director

To elevate the product for various consumer environments, we created a minimalist packaging system for all bottles and lids.

Our partnership with @puristcollective began last year—we were tasked with launching a comprehensive visual identity for Purist to debut their exceptional water bottles, and are thrilled to see the results of our work come to life.

These limited edition flasks of @venusspirits' Wayward Whiskey were a fun project we wrapped up before the holiday season. The size makes them perfect for on-the-go adventures.

Thanks to you, we’ve reached our goal of 500 pledges to vote in today’s midterms! We’re so encouraged by all the photos of proud voters repping their stickers—here are some beautiful faces we saw around Oakland. If you’re in the area and would like stickers, we dropped some off at Awaken Cafe, Open Cafe, Modern Coffee, Beauty’s Bagels, and Donut Savant. #votewithchendesign

Happy Election Day! We’re feeling grateful, empowered, and hopeful. Our collective commitment to make our voices heard continues beyond today, and we pledge to keep showing up and speaking up for justice and democracy. Wear and share your “I Voted” stickers proudly, and be sure to tag us and #votewithchendesign.⠀

Tomorrow's the big day! Do you have an election day game plan? Check out the FAQs on our website for if you're looking for resources on ballots. Link's in the bio. #votewithchendesign.

Have you pledged to vote yet? We’re so close to our goal of getting 500 pledges to vote in the midterms! Awesome stickers await to those who pledge through the link in our bio. Do it now so we can mail out your stickers to you ASAP. #votewithchendesign

How will you rep your vote? We’re aiming to get 500 pledges to vote next Tuesday in the midterms, and sending a free sheet of custom-designed stickers to anyone who pledges through the link in our bio. Pledge now so we can mail out your stickers to you ASAP! #votewithchendesign

Many thanks to the 300+ folks who have pledged to vote next Tuesday! If you haven't yet, pledge now through the link and we'll send you a free sheet of stickers. And if you're an early voter, share your "I Voted" photos with us using #votewithchendesign—we'd love to see.

We're halfway to our goal of reaching 500 pledges! Pledge to vote next Tuesday through the link in our bio and we'll send you these nifty "I Voted" stickers. Tag a fellow voting buddy below and help us spread the word. #votewithchendesign

Make your voice heard. Pledge to vote with us on votewithchendesign.com and we'll send you a free sheet of stickers for you to proudly rep next Tuesday. #votewithchendesign

We are trying to reach 500 pledges to vote before the midterms! Will you help us meet our goal? You can pledge through the link in our bio, and we'll send you a sheet of free "I Voted" stickers.

We show up to vote to make sure our decision makers are working the good of our communities. Pledge to vote through the link in our bio, and we'll send you a sheet of "I Voted" stickers, specially designed by us.

We created these awesome stickers to encourage you this midterm election, because your vote shapes our collective future. Get yours for free just by pledging to vote via the link in our bio! #votewithchendesign

Are you planning on voting? We hope you are! If you pledge to vote through the link in our bio, we’ll send you a free sheet of stickers, specially designed by us. #votewithchendesign

“After learning all sorts of things from all sorts of different people throughout life, I have a duty to understand what’s happening in the world and take a stance.” - Kim, our UX/UI Lead Designer Why do you vote? Tell us below and keep an eye out tomorrow—we've got something exciting up our sleeves just in time for the midterms. #votewithchendesign

“It’s easy to ignore issues that don’t directly affect me, but preparing for the vote keeps me empathetic and active in the fight for a better and more equitable world for all.” - Becky, our Sr. Brand Strategist Why do you vote? We want to hear your thoughts. #votewithchendesign

Our video for @johnmastersorganics was selected as a 2018 @gdusa Health + Wellness Design Award winner! Video by @thayerandco, prop styling by @enmprops.