I know what you’re thinking: isn’t Greece wine country? On that note, you’d mostly be right. In fact, the Greeks were so proud of the drink, they dedicated an entire way of life to it.
Unfortunately, when you’re a super-taster like me, the straight stuff just isn’t for you.
I like my drinks to run a bit more interesting, and surprisingly, so do a lot of my male friends. So, between the “Can I try that”s and the “That looks good”s, what is it that keeps them from taking the plunge? My guess: “Mixed drinks are for girls”. But do they HAVE to be?
That's why I created Pantheon, a dark, edgy vodka brand designed to make guys feel comfortable with mixed brews, while still maintaining their masculine dignity. Party on, dudes.
This project began as a lesson on my own part on how to change cloth diapers. Upon the request of some parents I babysat for, I began using them with their toddler—a two year old prone to sensitive skin. After two weeks of cotton diapers and natural lotions, I was amazed at how healthy and soft her skin became.
As someone also plagued with sensitive skin, I began to wonder why more natural products weren’t available for our little ones. After all, their bodies are even more delicate than ours. So, I developed Cherish, a brand dedicated to cultivating healthy bodies in babies everywhere. Intended to have a soft, gentle feel, the brand is targeted at parents who want the best nature can give—and who just can’t get enough cuddles from their little ones.
In the 21st century, I’ve noticed three things have come to define my lifestyle: physical and environmental health, and individuality. Millennials everywhere are obsessed with uniqueness in a time when it’s difficult to come by. Between frequenting build-your-own restaurants, making my own smoothies, and living on the organic bandwagon, I decided to ask myself a question: Why not marry the three?
My answer led me to create Niche, a unique build-your-own juice bar dedicated to expanding the healthy-eaters palette (and using natural products in place of plastic wherever possible). Its face is meant to be fun, colorful, and friendly while offering young health-seekers the chance to express themselves with what I (personally) love best: food!
Eating healthy isn’t always easy. For someone like me who has a stomach disorder, knowing exactly what you're putting in your body is extremely important. Even more important is knowing where that food is coming from. But in the age of “big business” how are we supposed to keep track of all those big-name companies that produce what we eat?
Well, look no farther than Monsanto. This mega-corporation owns almost every producer of fruit, meat, and veggies in the United States. And worse, they've been fighting for complete control over what ingredients to list, how to break down nutrition information, and whether or not to disclose where each product had been developed on their packaging.
Knowing that, I decided to create a campaign for an event called March Against Monsanto; an annual meet-up where consumers from all over gather to protest the tycoon's absolute power. My mission: to inform the public that what they think they're buying might not really be what they get.
We might not WANT to know what’s in those hot dogs, but we SHOULD be able to find out!
The value of personal hygiene—in any romantic endeavor—cannot be overstated. Because I’ve had the pleasure of knowing my partner since our awkward stage, this issue has been something we’ve addressed—on his end—multiple times. But between heavy scents and ineffective products, I had to ask: Does cologne have to be overwhelming? And what about deodorant that actually works?
With those questions in mind, I decided to create a new, sleek brand for men. Specializing in one main scent, the brand's goal was to appeal to men by providing a subtle yet attractive aroma, and the opportunity to give a little back to themselves with some good old-fashioned pampering. Sly is all about subtlety, but it’s also about results. Why not look good and feel good? Intended to be light enough to get up-close, yet strong enough to impress, I wanted the brand to be sleek and stylish. Just like a good first date.
Relationships are hard, and business is harder. But in 2020, they’ve melded in a mysterious and crazy way. When a friend of mine lost her job to Covid-19, she started what she first called a “side hustle” making free masks for schools and families in need. After she and her partner started the business together, their relationship and their cause grew stronger. So, they needed a voice.
Being of Latina heritage, Crystal always admired the beautiful treasures market sellers crafted, and also the undeniable character they had. There was a sense of history and community there. A sense of taking the discarded and giving it a new life. So, we decided to merge her and her partner’s names into an indie brand focused on purpose, and kindness. Kindness to ones self, others, and the diverse world we live in. Thus, Crystal Sky was born.
You’ve probably already guessed. Yes, this is “the family business”. Started in late 2018 after the passing of our grandfather, KPG has become an ever-evolving project. Of course, being a designer, I had to get my hands on the branding, and I’m glad I did. As the business is mainly based in Palmdale, CA, the colors have a desert theme (with a Californian twist). The result is a project I can be proud of, both because of my heritage, and my hard work.
