The Art Dept.

Tag: print design

  • poster // Beervana

    poster // Beervana

    We were recently tasked by the Sonoma Community Center to develop a graphic and poster to promote their first annual Beervana amateur beer brewing competition.  They asked us to create something to expressed the idea of “Nirvana for beer-lovers”—something a bit humorous.

    We instantly thought of an effervescent, jolly buddha rising from the frothy bubbles of a divine brew.  And a mock beer label was created.

    To attain Beervana, one must eliminate all desire and suffering through the tasting and appreciating of hand-crafted beer—and this is best accomplished by attending this sure-to-be-a-blast event.  Click here for details.

  • posters // Trashion Show

    posters // Trashion Show

    The Sonoma Community Center is curating a “Trashion” Fashion Show & Exhibit centered around fashions created by Bay Area artists from recycled and found materials.  We were inspired by the subject matter to make our own imagery for the posters from a collage of found items and imagery.

    Click here to learn more about the April 2 event!

  • Ra Ra Riot at Gundlach Bundschu

    Ra Ra Riot at Gundlach Bundschu

    Our friends at Gundlach Bundschu have excellent taste in music.  Case in point: last year’s first annual Huichica Music Festival headlined by Fruit Bats, Vetiver and Citay.  They’re keeping the vibe going this year with a special concert featuring rising indie chamber pop darlings Ra Ra Riot:

    There are ruckuses, ragers and rampages, but none of them come close to the riot happening this January 23, when Ra Ra Riot take the stage at Gundlach Bundschu Winery along with special guests Givers and Pepper Rabbit. Ra Ra Riot—a Syracuse-based sextet whose ebullient, string-infused brand of indie rock has enchanted industry arbiters including CMJ, Rolling stone and Pitchfork—promises an intense and unforgettable set, all framed within the extraordinary backdrop of Gundlach Bundschu’s historic redwood barn.

    We were excited to help Gundlach Bundschu with their promotional campaign for the event including press releases and print ads (see the ad above, designed by our Design Director Mary!) and we’re even more excited to go to the actual show.

    If you’re in the area, be sure to purchase tickets today (as these Gun Bun concerts are known to sell out!)  Word to the wise: it’s a rustic, unheated locale, so dress appropriately and wear layers. You can also warm up with Gun Bun’s award-winning wines . . . !

  • SONOMA magazine // Fall 2010

    SONOMA magazine // Fall 2010

    Once again sporting art direction and page layouts by Peter, the latest issue of SONOMA magazine—its second issue distributed nationally—features a story on the valley’s sublime Scribe Winery by Sarah:

    “Scribe Winery is exquisitely imperfect. This is where the sheen of Wine Country ends and its patchwork, outlaw lore bubbles to the surface. It’s where the dust billows over an irregular dirt road, escorted by a long row of palm trees that beckon you back toward the coarse hillsides and corrupt histories and overgrown, feral sweetness to a turn-of-the-century hacienda wiling away its hours in a state of gauzy, dilapidated bohemian grace. It’s where Andrew Mariani, his brother Adam, their uncle Andrew Avellar and Napa-based winemaker Kristof Anderson spend their hours making a neglected property whole again, and almost coincidentally, crafting lush, drinkable wine…[read more]“

    We’ve been receiving rave reviews on this issue, and Sarah’s Scribe story in particular. Our favorite response, though, is this note from Adam Mariani of Scribe:

    “Beyond the beautiful writing and absorbing journey you take the reader on, we are moved by how well you captured SCRIBE.  It is re-inspiring to hear our manifesto spoken so well in your writing.  Thank you.”

    If you don’t subscribe, please go out and pick up a copy at the newsstand—or at least check out some of the content on the magazine’s web site!

    Also, be sure to check out the video we produced on Scribe Winery for Cult Sonoma!

  • SONOMA magazine // we scream for ice cream!

    SONOMA magazine // we scream for ice cream!

    Sometimes, work can be a grind.  But most of the time, we love every second of what we do—especially when Sarah gets to write stories for SONOMA magazine on topics such as cheese, beer, spas and ice cream.  No better reason for a little indulgence than in the name of research!


    PHOTO // ROBBI PENGELLY, SONOMA MAGAZINE

    Just in time for the hot summer months, check out Sarah’s article in the summer issue of SONOMA magazine on the best local ice creameries—you can read the article here.  Also be sure to pick up a full copy of the magazine for features on local food (including Sarah’s cheese article) and Francis Ford Coppola’s new Sonoma County winery.

  • 2010 Sonoma Valley Muse

    2010 Sonoma Valley Muse

    Each year, the Sonoma Community Center selects a prominent character from Sonoma’s history to celebrate as the years’ Sonoma Valley Muse.  Past years have been in honor of Jack London, “Big Alma” Spreckels and Robert Lynch.  A special event is the focus of the celebration, which raises much needed funds for the treasure of an arts and cultural center that is the Sonoma Community Center.

    This year, the honoree is Hanzell Vineyards founder James D. Zellerbach—who also served as U.S. Ambassador to Italy.  The Italy connection inspired the theme of this year’s celebration: Roman Holiday!

    We were once again happy to help create promotional materials and invitations to spread the word about the wonderful event.  You can learn more about this year’s event—and buy tickets—here!

  • SONOMA Magazine // summer issue

    SONOMA Magazine // summer issue

    We love working on SONOMA magazine—what better way is there to immerse ourselves in and celebrate the Sonoma Valley culture we hold so dear?

    The summer issue has been published and is now on local news stands.  This issue also marks a major step forward for the magazine as it is now being distributed nationally.

    Featuring Peter’s art direction and story layouts as well as two feature stories written by Sarah—one on local cheese producers and the other on local ice creameries—the issue’s theme is “food” and also features a story on Francis Ford Coppola’s new Sonoma County winery.

    Check out the web site for more information, or go out and find a printed copy to get the full scoop!

  • The Val Papadins’ album art

    The Val Papadins’ album art

    To create this album artwork, we started off with an original painting of a piano on fire and added Sarah’s original photography.

    We then laid out the album art to develop a cohesive visual representation of the band’s unique music and personality.

  • SONOMA magazine

    SONOMA magazine

    These sample spreads from SONOMA magazine feature art direction and layouts by Peter and writing, copyediting and photography by Sarah.

    As part of the process for helping SONOMA magazine launch their new lifestyle magazine, we created a prototype of the magazine using Peter’s style guide and graphic design and Sarah’s original photography
    and writing.  This prototype went on to inform the final style guide Peter ultimately created the magazine.