Every so often we set the keyboard aside and break out the brushes and ink. Nothing speaks originality and soul more than custom tailored artwork. It's been said time and time again - a picture says a thousand words

Analog Illustration & Typography

From top 1,000 to top 100 design firms! Commence ranks amongst the best creative agencies. 

Commence Studio Named a Member of the Clutch Top 100

When it comes to overcoming fears of rebranding, fear not! Explore how to welcome change and why the reward outweighs the risk.

Facing Your Fears of Rebranding

You're ready to launch your Shopify store and you're wondering if you should use the basic Shopify theme or a Bespoke one. Click here for the comparison

Basic Theme vs Bespoke Shopify Theme Builds

If you are looking for ways to boost your company's sales online, Shopify can be a reliable tool. Here is how Shopify subscriptions can help improve your sales.

How Shopify Subscriptions Can Help Improve Your Sales

Learn how the adoption of sustainable packaging and design at your coffee company can improve its growth potential while lessening its environmental impact.

A Coffee Company Owner's Guide to Sustainable Packaging and Design

Dual Image Grid

The monogram brand mark symbolizes a swiftness of motion while bringing recognition to the brand’s namesake.

Brand Mark

Logo over gym image; Logo orange bg

Fitlab prides itself on fitness expertise and a welcoming, inclusive service provided by the gym and trainers.

Commence collaborated with the owner, Valerie, to develop a set of taglines and imagery to represent these values.

Fitness For All

A simple yet bright color palette was used to instill the warm and welcoming nature of the gym.

Color Palette

Fitlab’s goal is to cultivate an atmosphere that inspires people to work out and get stronger together. We created a flexible design system utilizing bold typography to communicate brand messaging and wayfinding throughout.

Signage & Corporate Collateral

Three Column Image Grid

A strong and bold identity system developed for a fitness gym dedicated to their community, bringing an inclusive atmosphere to the Northern California area.

Brand Identity

Logo on blue bg; spices product photo

Barnacle Foods strives to keep the ecosystems they rely on for ingredients as healthy as they found them. Ensuring that these resources continue to flourish for future generations to enjoy.  The Commence designers created a new logo that gives Barnacle Foods an organically recognizeable mark and scalable design system that reflects their company culture (and namesake).

Hello brandmark

BBQ sauce; Barnacle logo w wave

The Commence designers collaborated closely on the project with founder Lia and operator Rosa to bring forth a unified family of packaging that shows their quirky personalities and culinary creative products.

Bold packaging for unique foods

Horizontal Slider

Barnacle Foods initially came to Commence back in 2019 to design a single label for their Bullwhip Hot Sauce. The brief was to feature a salty seaman and the Bullwhip Kelp ingredients.  In addition to that, Commence pitched an illustration of a salty female character, fitting for the primarily women-lead company. The new hot sauce label and female character was a hit, and Barnacle wanted to build off this momentum!

How it began

The Commence designers created custom labels for all 16 core products; they created a flexible yet consistent design system. Each label features unique illustrations of original characters, Alaskan landscapes, and signature ingredients.  The artwork illustrated around the bottles and jars builds on the brand’s narrative and encourages customers to pick up and turn them to discover more around the bend.

Illustrated labels

Labels

Commence designers and developers worked alongside each other to build an ecommerce website that showcases the new brand identity, captures more search results, makes subscription savings clear and put the product narrative at the forefront.  Barnacle Foods now has in-depth landing pages about Kelp farming, their brand story and provides a faster shopping experience for their customers.

Optimizing the shopping experience

Rhubarb Jam rotating web

“The new brand identity is highly recognizeable and sets Barnacle Foods up to scale with sustainability, exploration, and environmental consciousness at the forefront.”

Business Cards & Boxes

Food Photos

Sauce Photos

Rebranding, illustration, packaging and web development for the sustainably-driven Barnacle Foods, bringing locally harvested ingredients to Alaska and beyond.

Alaskan kelp foods & sustainable packaging

The Commence designers collaborated closely on the project with founding principal Travis Brown and the team of directors at the the school to realize an identity that inspires and encourages exploration across the school. 

A brand that resonates with students and faculty

Pharos Academy is unapologetically committed to educating Bronx kids. Casting a huge beacon of light and achievement in one of the lowest-performing school districts in New York City.  The Commence designers developed a graphic toolkit of core elements that give the school a high degree of creative flexibility and recognition.

A Guiding Light

The primary mark is built from a combination of monogram “P” and “A” as well as a lighthouse. The name Pharos is derived from the name of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of the anceint world.

A monogram and a lighthouse

“The identity draws on Pharos Academy’s values to create a modern design system that reinforces the school’s bold, intellectually curious positioning.”

Pharos Academy Charter School believes in the power of team, or CREW as they call it. Commence Studio designed a set of crests to represent the crew that is the school.

The shields

What creature would you most often find near a lighthouse? A seagull no doubt. The team created a flexible set of designs featuring the fierce sea-loving character.

Charter schools have mascots too

To assist and guide how the Pharos Academy staff and students show up and contribute everyday, the team developed a set of illustrations relaying the values of Radical Inclusivity, Collaborative Curiousity, Storytelling, and more.

Illustrating Community Culture

After establishing the brand identity for Pharos Academy, the team moved forward onto the web design, strategy and development phase of the project.

Showcasing the brand to the web

Our studio worked to create a fully customized framework and design components for the Pharos Academy website. The goal was to create an easily navigated digital funnel for prospective staff members, students and their families.

Getting people where they need to go quickly

Web GIF

Pharos Academy encourages the unique pathways of individuals and the design studio built the website to match that sentiment through visual storytelling and interactive pages.

Better to be bold

“Unconventional layouts bring a refreshing look to the educational institute’s website without compromising usability, legibility, and professionalism.”

The merchandise designs were inspired by sports branding and streetwear to give a “It’s cool to stay in school” subliminal message to students and staff.

Dressed for success

Banner designs showcase the school’s brand an evoke a sense of pride and familiarity for students passing them in halls each day. 

Brand systems for the halls

Institutional identity and web development for the K-12 public charter school in the Bronx, New York, that draws on the extraordinary, forward-thinking vision the school executes.

Bold in the Bronx

Interactive Web Animations Video Loop

It became clear as recreational cannabis became legal, that they needed an accessible resource for people to browse products, discover daily deals, and learn about the local regulations.

Questions on cannabis?

Commence has created a new website for Sierra Well that perfectly conveys its mission to bring high quality cannabis discreetly and conveniently to adults 21+.   The dashboard-like experience created a bold and accessible interface that responds seamlessly on mobile phones.

Wellness

Commence designed large, bold typography helping guide folks who have dificulty reading smaller texts. Themed cards and comprehensive location information helped make wellness more accessible for this community.

Clear categories

Sierra Well was the first cannabis dispensary in Reno, NV, and their eyes are set on continuing to lead the way. Sierra Well approached Commence to help create a modern website and online store for their patients and customers.

Cannabis culture in the digital space

Gravallese Co. products are driven by 100 years of heritage in barbering, by barbers for both themselves and those in the chairs before them.  For products created with meticulously researched natural ingredients, we built an organic brand narrative, and a visual identity that reflects attention to detail.

Building a brand based on tradition and advancement

Video

Vinnie, the master barber, strives to do better; they’re making more sustainable & plant-based grooming products. Our packaging designs support that effort and highlight each of those key ingredients.  The product photography was inspired by stone masonry, dedication to craft, and the unity between rough and beauty.

Steps towards sustainable packaging

The charm of the Gravallese Co. flagship barber shop isn’t limited to it’s in-person location. We implemented and themed the gravallese.co website to be just as welcoming, accessible, and informative as the shop experience. Utilizing Shopify for fast checkouts and driving sales, we were able to guide their team to launch and start selling online.

The digital storefront, ecommerce

We add personality and storytelling by drawing fierce animal characters paired with raw expressions of the plant ingredients. Perhaps we're all wild animals in need of a little grooming. 

Illustration as information and inspiration

Lid illustrations

We made it clear for customers to find their desired product with bright-yet-earthy colored labels, prominantly displayed ingredients, and themed categories.

Creating product families

Gravallese Co is a brand that appeals to those with and without a beard. Barbers and non-barbers. Speaking the notion that self care and wanting to look your best is available for everyone.

Transparent Product Photos

Gravallese Co. came to us to create their brand identity, packaging design, website, and product photography centered around the refinement of traditional grooming products and self-care.

Italian Heritage Brand & Grooming Products

50|50

Black Rabbit Mead Co. partnered with us to create a brand identity and packaging system for their mead. Although their product is produced with honey, they make a significantly less sweet mead than other traditional varieties. It was a goal of ours to carry over this idea to a less sweet, more eerie, and regal look for their brand.

Down the Rabbit Hole Packaging Design

50|50 logotype

33% details

50|50 Food Photography 

33% food photography

We knew the Zero Hospitality Group had something up their sleeves when they told us they were turning an old mechanic garage into a family-style restaurant in an upcoming neighborhood for Reno, NV. After a few branding and positioning exercises, we landed on Von Bismarck together. We were honored to be brazen with the brand across the architectural revival with historically themed typography, menu and web design, as well as food photography. 

Branding German Hospitality

We're always up for a challenge. When Bombadil approached us to help them build a Lord of the Rings-inspired flower brand, we were more than up for it! It goes without saying, we have a passion for building corporate brands but love to roll our sleeves up and have a little fun as well. 

Fantastical Flowers

Row 2 - 3 image blocks

2 column image block

tear sheet

Them Duqaines came to us for artwork and design for their studio album ‘The Story of the Moral’. We illustrated the story told across the track list and brought the honky tonk characters to life through CDs, custom vinyl design, and merchandise. We tip our hat to these folks.

Story of the Moral Album Art

Barnacle Foods challenged us to create a new label for their Bullwhip Kelp hot sauce that reflects their personality and helps pull in new customers. Originally the Bullwhip woman was supposed to be a salty older gentleman, but after meeting the women-led team at Barnacle, it was clear we had an opportunity for more accurate representation. After releasing the new packaging, the product became a best seller and is featured on Patagonia Provisions.

Bullwhip Hot Sauce

A simple and intriguing branding and web project we did for StreamNative.

Branding and Web Design

We love working with the Magpie team just as much as we enjoy their coffee. If you've ever stopped by, purchased a bag of their delicious coffee, or met any of the amazing staff working there, then you already know what we're talking about. When they approached us to give their packaging a new refresh from the old packaging we created, it goes without saying, we were over the moon. 

Going Minimalist

Images 1,2

We refreshed the look of Coffeebar to match their attitude. Bold, bright, yet sophisticated and refined. With such a growth taking place in the company, and a dedicated, loving fanbase - it was of upmost importance that we complete every action with strategy. Our measure twice, cut once mentality was something we were taking into account every step of the process.

Identity Exploration 

Image 3

In addition to Coffeebar’s signature orange, brown and tan color scheme, we introduced some pronounced secondary colors because coffee offers the ideology of comfort and energy of movement all at once.

Step One

Badges are great for everything from identity extension, to website ornamentation, to clothing designs or patches.

More than text and color 

Image 7

While we wanted to keep things modern, we also didn’t want to erase the human element. That human element is what differentiates all of Coffeebar’s locations from so many other coffee shops. We thought some handwritten elements would carry that ideology accross their brand.

Handwritten <3

Images 8,9

One of the goals we established when we first met with our pals at Coffeebar was the desire to have a kickass website. We wanted something that highlighted all locations, encompassed everything a customer could look for, stand out above the ordinary and, of course, look amazing.

This is the first page Coffeebar’s customers see. It not only gives them a taste of the custom video components, eye-catching transitions and integrated handwritten elements, but it also highlights the shopping experience and invites them to check out Coffeebar’s individual locations, blog, ideology, spotify favorites and lifestyle portfolio.

Homepage of champions. 

This site starts with the expected. You’ll find the contact, about, culture and shop pages quickly. Then it adds some pizazz. It includes pages dedicated to the senses— photos to look at, playlists to listen to, news to read about and menus to salviate over. As if that wasn’t cool enough, each of Coffeebar’s location pages link to these experiences, displaying corresponding examples of each. Lastly the site finishes off with some truly special surprises, roadtrips and brew guides, but you’ll see those later.

Where can we visit?

Coffeebar has done a fantastic job of keeping their brand consistent throughout each of their locations while making each space uniquely fit into the local area. Our challenge was to do the same thing digitally.

Keeping it all together 

We chose Shopify as the platform of choice. It has a beautiful back-end that gives us the ability to hand-craft the shopping experience, and staff the ease of use. (Added bonus for their top-notch analytics, data reporting and ecommerce insights. )

The shopping experience is well organized into three categories and kicks things off with a couple different suggestions. Each product page includes pictures, its story and a sticky header that displays the most important details 100% of the time as you scroll to explore a product. Which means, yes, customers can add that baby to cart no matter where they are on the page.

Bring in the money 

Its always sweet to see artwork on items people bring with them (or wear on them), because that means theres’s a higher chance that art will touch more souls. Here’s a couple products we merged with our badges and typography as proposals to add to Coffeebar’s online store.

It ends with swag

Image 14

What’s a coffeeshop without rad music? We embedded Coffeebar’s favorite playlists with each location page, suggesting a set of songs that will always bring you back to your favorite coffee artists.

Feed all the senses 

Images 16-19

Ever wonder how you’re favorite coffee spot makes their drinks so perfect? Well here’s how. Visit Coffeebar’s brew guides page to explore four in depth brewing methods. And if you’re already a master brewer, at least check it out out to admire the awesome handwritten elements.

We've hit the jackpot 

Image 21

As if detailed steps and a complete instruction list weren’t enough, the illustrations that pair with each step blew it out of the water.

Illustrations for the soul 

Image 23

Image 24, 25

When you first visit Coffeebar Roadtrips you’ll see a map with a bunch of stops Coffeebar employees handpicked. Each stop’s point is color coded brown, blue, yellow or green which corresponds to the stop type: discover, explore, drink or eat. Filter by location, or type, or both. Zoom in or out, and scroll right or left. You can even click on each point to see a preview of the stop, its name and city.

The bells and whistles

There’s even a corresponding card that scrolls to display whenever you click on a point. It offers you all the details you need to know, its website, a link to google maps, which employee suggested it and why.

Know it all 

Image 28

There was a lot of fun with photo and video on this project. We were able to work with on-location and studio photography as well as cinemagraphs, custom video and timelapses.

Great for website and blog photos, we shot everything Coffeebar where all the magic really happens.

In their environment 

Great for social media, we shot some messy, but worth it, looping cinemagraphs and in-studio scenes. The cleanliness of the solid color backgrounds and attention-grabbing hand placement allowed us to create a whole new feel and interest.

Bringing it back home 

Each coffeebar location got its own video. Some are captivating timelapses while others show just how cool the shop and their employees really are.

The reel deal

Being a group of creative professionals, its only natural to be fueled by caffeine and cold brews. Coffeebar is a supplier of just that— not to mention wine, baked treats, good times and great memories with even greater friends. At the start of Summer 2017 when Coffeebar was gearing up to open their 5th location we began a partnership to achieve an enhanced social presence and build a brand new website in preparation for the much-anticipated arrival in Silicon Valley.

Un Vero Gusto Italiano

Full Width Images 1-5,10. Half Width Gifs 6-7 + Stills 8-9, 11-12 Grid

Time to celebrate. Patagonia has hit the 20 year mark at their Upper West Side shop. We worked together with the Patagonia NYC team to create some custom illustration and tears sheets for this anniversary. Being in the ‘business to save our home planet,’ Patagonia has worked with dozens of different environmental non-profits in the NYC area the last 2 decades, so we wanted this project to tell that story and depict the history of the area.

The Freedom & The Escape

Image 1

Growing in the high desert of Northern Nevada is difficult, but Future Fresh laughed in the face of mono-croppers everywhere and is now bringing fresh produce to the desert. It was only fitting that we made their brand identity represent innovation, all while keeping it light and simple.

Keep it simple

The Fresh Future logo was designed to represent the convenience and quality of aquaponic farming-- shaping the future of modern agriculture with sustainable, local produce for the community.

Logo Design 

Image 4

The Fresh Future color palette was created with inspiration from different crops. Contrasting colors on the warm & cool spectrum leave a lasting feeling of organic novelty.

Natural + Fresh 

We wanted to fully embody what it means to be natural. So we kept it sweet and simple

Images 8-10

To keep your future fresh, your delivery could be no more than a tap away.

Image 11

Through re-imagining organic produce in a box, we started creating an enticing and environmentally progressive identity for the Fresh Future Box; the aquaponics solution to the end of the Farmer's Market season. Whether it’s spicy peppers, rich butter greens, or plum tomatoes, we made sure we incorporated all elements of sweet sweet sustainability. Ensuring that they sacrificed nothing when it came to authentically representing their brand promise, we created their brand so it was replete with natural elements and vibrant visuals.

The Future of Community Supported Agriculture

Images 1-3

Lorable’s iconography reflects the clear shapes and style to match its brand identity. The icons take the approach of being recognizable and functional. The simplicity allows for the tone of the content to be at the forefront.

Lorable uses a color theme inspired by rich yellowed pages of a novel, complemented by the dark blues of the night sky.

Let's Talk Color

Images 6-9

The interface must adapt to different lighting conditions to avoid poor readability or glare. Designing for dark mode allows for content to be easier on the eyes in dimmer environments.

Image 10

Lorable’s stories are developed based on casual human conversations so users are acclimated effortlessly. The UI we created assists in guiding the user through a natural flow of conversation.

Images 11-13

Lorable is a storytelling app developed by the Northern Nevada based startup to engage both readers and writers with interactive plot building. Through strategic branding, material design, and clarified theming, we helped create an app experience that is engaging and easy to explore.

A Story Worth Sharing Through UX

The DVA color palette was created to reflect the central focus of water in their sustainable farming practice

Aquaponics Through Color 

Images 3,4

The Dayton Valley Aquaponics logo was designed to represent the harmony between technology and tradition, and promoting locally grown, ecologically sustainable food.

Harmony in Design 

Dayton Valley Aquaponics partnered with us to create a brand that represented their bio-fueled take on farming that provides fresh produce year round in the High Desert of Nevada

Analog Illustration & Typography

Whitmore Leather Goods

Worldwide Nation

Deso Supply Co.

Patagonia

Clever Baking Co.

Shawarmageddon

State of Nevada

EDAWN

ICRAVE

Loki Pet Treats

Indo Herbal Tonic