Sarah Jane Maki

Mindo Chocolate Sustainable Package Design

client: Mindo Chocolate Makers

This work was produced as a two part project – brand strategy followed by sustainable package design. In the initial phase, I performed research on the social (cultural), economical and environmental aspects of chocolate making, through which I gained an intimate knowledge of the process from farm to table. I also interviewed the client and other stakeholders in an effort to learn as much as I could about their goals, perceived needs, behavior and values.

For the second phase of the project, I created sustainable packaging solutions for Mindo. I reviewed artisan chocolate making, explored the competition and market, looked at potential materials and processes, explored the supply chain of those ideas and finally outlined a solution that encompasses all the data collected.

You will find an overview of the process in the Case Study and detailed documentation in the Full Report.

Apostrophe Brands Identity

client: Apostrophe Brands

Brand identity design – logo and stationary – for a beverage company. The design represents liquid elements without identifying a specific beverage. This was done by creating the illusion of three-dimensional droplets sitting on the paper. The printing was done with six colors – four, plus a metallic, and a gloss varnish on the droplet elements.

Salon Tru Logo and Website

client: Salon Tru

Logo and website concept for an Aveda hair salon.

Tax Talk Forum: Branding and Web Design

Tax Trilogy: Branding and Web Design

Tax Trilogy came to me with an idea for a social and informational website for tax professionals. After a brand strategy meeting and some break out brainstorming, Tax Talk Forum was born. Launching in January of 2013, Tax Talk Forum is a user forum and social network for tax professionals. The site is a fresh vision of professional tax resources on the Web and is unique in both its approach (young and social) and its content.

The Tax Talk brand was designed to be clean, professional and fresh. The orange shows the energy and youth of the firm, and subtly ties to the parent company Tax Trilogy’s brand of yellows and oranges.

The web design incorporates the branding and user-centered design to create an integrated blog, social network and forum.

A character named “Onerous Bastard Tax” was created as a humorous character to add levity to particularly difficult taxes. Each month a super tricky tax is featured in the “Onerous Bastard Tax” post. A Flash map graphic was created to display the various “Bastard Taxes” in the states in which they apply. The goal was to make the map fun and engaging. When the user mouses over a state, it is highlighted and a tiny version of the Bastard Tax character pops up. When the user selects the state, it enlarges and bubble pops up identifying the onerous taxes. When the user clicks a bubble, they are taken to a full explanation of the tax within the forum.

The site’s advertising copy was written by Jennifer Baum. The Onerous Bastard Tax illustration was created by Kenneth Roberts. The slider graphics and map were designed by Meg Jannott.

Little Human Logo

client: Little Human

This logo was designed for a online retail store whose specialty was earth friendly, non-toxic children’s toys.