My Role
Solo Graphic Designer & Researcher
Timeline
April 2024 - May 2024
Oct 2024 - December 2024 (Re-Design)
Oct 2024 - December 2024 (Re-Design)
Tools
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Clip Studio Paint
Adobe Photoshop
Clip Studio Paint
Project Brief
About
Sweet Scents is a small, start-up business specializing in dessert-themed, handcrafted candles designed to evoke a sense of calm and joy. When the client approached me, they only ad a general vision for the brand's personality and aesthetic. My role was to translate that concept into a cohesive and visually distinctive brand identity.
This project includes the development of the logo, color palette, packaging design, and product labels to capture that playful, yet cozy, essence of the brand!
Problem
Sweet Scents lacked an established brand identity, visual system, and packaging direction. The client requested a complete brand design built from scratch to clearly communicate their concept and appeal to their target audience.
Goals
• Create a playful & professional brand identity that differentiates Sweet Scents from competitors in the candle market.
• Design packaging and product labels that are eye-catching, cohesive, and memorable.
• Establish a consistent visual language that supports future product expansion.
• Design packaging and product labels that are eye-catching, cohesive, and memorable.
• Establish a consistent visual language that supports future product expansion.
Design Solutions
Timeline
Design Process
Research
Starting this project, the only information I knew was that my client was starting a new handmade candle business and wanted their branding to be sweets-themed. I conducted research on design trends within the candle industry and analyzed competitors. I also gathered insights into popular packaging designs, scent profiles, and customer expectations.
[ Bubblemap, Handwritten Notes, Moodboard of Research & Other Candle Companies ]
Ideation
During the ideation phase, I began by brainstorming brand directions regarding the logo, color palette, and typography. Deciding what theme and feelings my client want their business to evoke, like soothing, minimalism, colorful, etc. Along with the logo sketches, I compiled some color scheme and typography options to better understand my client's needs.
[ Moodboards of what they want, Logo Sketches, Product Sketches ]
Concept Development
[ Image of Digital Concepts ]
Finalized Brand Identity
Keywords: Nostalgic, Childish, Cute, Upbeat, Fun, Candy/Sugar Rush
Insights & Challenges
We initially went with the light blue & hot pink color scheme, but we noticed that it didn't visually look "playful". I updated the color scheme to be the primary colors to give a childish vibe - red, yellow, and blue. With these colors, the design is more eye candy and fun! Another issue with the original design was that it looked too flat, so for the backgrounds, I incorporated a subtle gradient that is combination of the entire color palette.
May 2024 | First Design
October 2024 | Re-Design
Finalized Designs
For Sweet Scents, I designed their brand identity (logo, color scheme, voice), packaging boxes, candle labels, stationary, and freebie stickers! The client and I want to bring a comforting experience when customers open their package. Every order would come with free stickers that are in theme of the brand.
Reflection
Working on Sweet Scents allowed me to expand my skill set in brand creation and working with clients. The project challenged me to design a cohesive identity from scratch, which required a deep understanding and frequent communication with the client to ensure every design element - from the dessert candle logo to the packaging design - aligned with their vision. Overall, this project improved my skills in client management, brand identity, and packaging design!
Credits
