Category

Branding

Illustration

Packaging

Print

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe After Premiere

Category

Branding

Illustration

Packaging

Print

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe After Premiere

Identity

Tristia

Context

The Tristia is a collection of letters written in elegiac couplets by the Augustan poet Ovid during his exile from Rome. In it, there is a part where Ovid  celebrates his birthday. ‘Behold,’ he laments in the Tristia, ‘the God of my birth comes on his day uselessly – what was the point of my being born?’ But amid the wailing and the self-pity he provides a checklist of the usual birthday treats that are sorely missing. Special clothes (a white robe), prayers, incense… and cake.

Cake, no matter what culture,
means "you are special and we are glad you are here."

Ideation

I know many people in my life who don't like to celebrate their birthday. In fact, birthdays and holidays put a lot of pressure on people. If you to make people feel loved and cared for without adding social pressure, why not gift them a cake? Tristia is my first iteration of future cake shop & café branding that will sell custom cakes for special occasions as well as simple pastries and coffee drinks.

02
Packaging

Boxes full of sweet surprises

I designed the macaron box to have more saturated pattern in gold to make the experience of opening up a small box feel more impactful. Layers of patterns and uncovering them adds to the fun and excitement of opening up gifts. Cake boxes on the other hand, are more muted in appearance but the process of opening them are more complicated. Inspired by The Grand Budapest Hotel's pastry box, I designed a box that would unravel just with the ribbon being undone. It is a hassle to pull out cake in a box and put it back in when you can't finish. Most of the time, you'll end up getting some cake on your hands or you undo the box by pulling out the sides. Sometimes the box will rip and you'll end up with a broken box. This package allows customers to easily access the cake without getting any cream on their hands and put the cake back without crumpling the box.

 
02
Branding

Let them eat cake

The visual language of this brand was inspired from the saying "Let them eat cake" by the famous Queen of France, Marie Antoinette. In contrast of the meaning behind the name Tristia, I wanted the imagery to feel lavish and indulgent. Hand-drawn and painted images of cakes and fruits add personal touch and a vintage classy vibe. I want a special occasion to feel truly special and even transform a mundane day to an extraordinary day when they are presented with any of the branded products.


COMING SOON - LIVE WEBSITE

03
Cakes

Custom cakes for special occasions

I personally made display cakes while creating this brand. It was a lovely experience that allowed me to feel like I was about to open up a real cake shop. I plan to design more unique cakes and pastries that would always surprise those who receive them and make them feel deserving of this very sweet and special experience.

03

MORE