I love my musician friends—and if you're a musician, dancer, actor or fire-eater—I love you too. There is nothing quite as satisfying as collaborating with fellow artists. Through evocative colors, hand lettering, bold abstract graphics and original illustrations your gig poster / album art / massive theatre production of Swan Lake will be taken to another level. Let's make something!

GRAPHIC DESIGN / ADVERTISING
EVENT PROMOTION / POSTERS
ALBUM ART / PACKAGING
ILLUSTRATION / LETTERING

Lizzie Katz is passionate about making Judaica and homeware that is relevant and exciting to her contemporaries. Her interest in modern digital design and fabrication processes (including 3D printers and laser cutters) combined with her love for materiality and craftsmanship, make her designs unique and appealing for wide audiences. Lizzie's work has been featured by Design Milk, and her Sculptural Bronze Menorah is available as a limited edition through the Jewish Museum of NYC.

Designing Lizzie's site was all about showcasing her work. A clean, mobile-friendly layout puts her distinctive pieces front and center, and 1-click access to shop pages makes it easy to get a closer look at all that authentic Wisconsin craftsmanship.

“Always navigating the boundaries between sculptural, industrial, architectural, and decorative, I strive to create handmade modern heirloom pieces that standout from the sea of products on the market.” — Lizzie Katz

See more of Lizzie's unique work at LizzieKatz.com

WEB DESIGN

Legendary. Authentic. A True Southern Treat from the backwoods of South Carolina – Melvin’s Barbecue.

Folks who know BBQ know that every region has it’s own unique style, and that South Carolina is all about that mustard base. The tradition can be traced back to 1933, when Melvin Bessinger was taught the infamous “Golden Secret” recipe. After returning from WWII Melvin used his Army paychecks to help his father Big Joe open the legendary Eat At Joe's. Many years (and with the support and permission of his wife Betty), Melvin started his own restaurant in Charleston, SC. To this day you can still enjoy the Original Golden Secret BBQ recipe as passed down from father to son – David Bessinger (pitmaster and owner of Melvin’s BBQ).

Since 2017 it’s been my pleasure to help Melvin’s breathe new life into one of Charleston’s most beloved brands. We’ve redesigned the logo from scratch and applied a blend 1940’s-50’s Southern style with modern aesthetics to the overall branding. The result is a bold-yet-familiar look that jumps off shelves and makes patrons feel at home. Paired with playful advertising and standout graphics, Melvin’s now has as much kick as their sauces.

Recently Melvin’s has enjoyed being featured in countless articles and best-of lists and winning acclaim in a town where BBQ is serious business. I can’t express how much fun it has been to work with David, Debbie and Heather, and how rewarding it is to see a family-owned business with legitimate local roots succeed in such a tough market. But really, it’s their BBQ doing all the work.

LOGO DESIGN / BRANDING
PACKAGING / MENUS / MERCH / VEHICLES
ADVERTISING / COPYWRITING

Lifestyle Photography by Jonathan Boncek
Label Printing by Blue Label
Vehicle Wrap by Charleston Wraps

It was so much fun the first time, that we did it again! Purim 2017 at Revelry Brewing in Charleston SC was a collaborative effort by Chabad of Charleston, BSBI, and Congregation Dor Tikvah. A diverse and spirited crowd came together to celebrate getting one over on Haman by playing dress up, drinking craft beer, and dancing to DjRehab. Thanks again to our incredible hosts and to everyone who helped bring the night together!

BRANDING / EVENT DESIGN
PROMOTION / ADVERTISING

Free Fly is a performance apparel designer based in Charleston SC, specializing in ecologically sound bamboo clothing for outdoor addicts – and it is the softest stuff you've ever worn.

For the past few years it's been my privilege to act as Art Director for the team, designing everything from packaging and catalogs, to email promos and give-away goodies. My aim was to convey Free Fly's love of the outdoors, and genuine desire to make comfy, high-performance clothing for people who share their passion. Luckily I had phenomenal photographers like Andrew Cebulka to rely on for evocative content – not to mention the dedicated (when not fishing) Free Fly family.

ART DIRECTION / MARKETING
GRAPHIC DESIGN / ADVERTISING
COPYWRITING / WEB DESIGN
PACKAGING / COLLATERAL

It was my pleasure to design a wild array of promotional goodies for Purim 2016 at Revelry Brewing in downtown Charleston SC. A collaborative effort on the part of Chabad of Charleston, BSBI, and Congregation Dor Tikvah – this year's festivities included live music, a full open bar, costumes, circus acts and any number of strange sightings. Thanks to the folks at Revelry for being incredible hosts (not to mention the lovely beverages!) and to everyone involved in bringing this amazingly fun night to life.

BRANDING / EVENT DESIGN
PROMOTION / ADVERTISING
ANIMATION / ILLUSTRATION

The Black Hand Lenormand is a modern recreation of the classic Lenormand Oracle (aka "the Game of Hope") lovingly used by European fortunetellers since the 1800s. This miniature deck contains all of the cards associated with a standard playing card deck with one major deviation – 36 of the cards also feature illustrations which can be used for divination.

My goal was to translate the traditional Lenormand images into a unique graphic style which would resonate with both modern sibyls as well as card collectors. The chalky white drawings convey a classic folk-occult flavor, and their miniature scale makes larger spreads like the grand tableau more manageable. And, if your muggle friends should inquire about the deck, they can double as standard playing cards.

The full set includes the BlackHand Lenormand Deck, a Palmistry Card / Meaning Guide, and a Black Onyx Pendulum with velvet pouch.

Watch the deck walkthrough with The Truth in Story

BUY THE BLACKHAND LENORMAND 2nd Edition at BlackHandGoods.com!

ART DIRECTION
ILLUSTRATION / GRAPHIC DESIGN
PUBLISHING / MERCHANDISE
PLAYING CARDS

The Charleston International Film Festival has come a long way since it first began in 2008 – now screening 65 films, boasting 7,500+ attendees, open workshops, world premieres – and it's about time their brand looked the part.

Simple, bold, and so subtly deco – the new logo and branding for CHSIFF is a system this organization can grow with.

The tastefully Art Deco typography makes subtle references to both old Hollywood and Charleston herself, while remaining heavyweight enough to dance with the often graphic imagery associated with film. The H in CHS has been made to resemble a cut film strip, with the slice leading up toward an adjusted S. And the mark is flexible enough to take on multiple lockups, allowing CHSIFF to have a comprehensive go-anywhere system.

It is and has been an absolute pleasure working with CHSIFF, and I'm exceedingly proud to have played a role in their rebranding. Thank you guys! Enjoy it!

BRANDING / LOGO DESIGN
ART DIRECTION / GRAPHIC DESIGN
ADVERTISING / EVENT DESIGN

Promotional Valentine postcard for 2017. And I really, really, really do love you just the way you are.

Didn't get one? Join the SB mailing list! You'll get all kinds of wonderful things, and not one bit of spam. Promise.

GRAPHIC DESIGN / ADVERTISING
ILLUSTRATION / LETTERING

Warren Contracting is a residential and commercial contracting company serving New York City and surrounding boroughs. The company's owner David Fuchs is obsessed with providing high quality workmanship at reasonable rates, prizing honesty and dependability above all else. He also just plain likes to fix things and like me, loves raw materials. With all that in mind we built an identity that was sturdy, polished, and amiable, then layered it with sumptuous textural images that reflect a passion for details.

BRANDING / LOGO DESIGN
COLLATERAL

The original Milan opened its doors in 1951 at 19th & Chestnut in Philadelphia, where it become a landmark for locals and was rumored to be a favored spot for gangsters and their kids. Though there were many classic Italian dishes, everyone started with the famous Milan Salad. A simple salad with such a devoted following that it continues to appear on menus far and wide. Don't believe me? Go ask any corner grocer in Philly and they'll set ya straight!

In 2014 I was called in by Jimmy himself to help bottle this legendary dressing. The logo script was created in the spirit of the original restaurant signage, and the overall branding takes it's cues from the signature brickwork facade, Philly-Italian aesthetics, and the dressing itself. This nostalgic tone was then applied to packaging, website, promotional collateral, and ads. Jimmy's Milan Salad Dressing is now being carried by more than 30 retailers across the US, in addition to being available online.

Pick up a bottle today, and enjoy a Philly tradition! Salut!

LOGO DESIGN / BRANDING
PACKAGING / WEB DESIGN
ADVERTISING / COLLATERAL

Photography by Cassandra Panek

In 2015 the Charleston International Film Festival moved up King street to inhabit the Charleston Music Hall causing a week long film takeover downtown. Streets were marked with banners in the now unmistakable colors of CHSIFF, while visiting artists and attendees flooded the restaurant district between screenings and after hours.

In keeping with the punk-posh aesthetic from 2014, this year's visuals took a grunge approach to classic Hollywood via graphic dot patterns, backlit by CHSIFF's vibrant brand palette. This was juxtaposed with ultra clean san-serif typography and art deco-esque styling, marrying the charms of historic Charleston with the silver screen era.

Special thanks to inventivENVIRONMENTS, Charleston Music Hall and Limelight Sign Cofor helping to set the stage for the Festival's most successful year thus far.

ART DIRECTION / MARKETING
GRAPHIC DESIGN / ADVERTISING
COPYWRITING / WEB DESIGN

The Charleston International Film Festival is a 5-day event held in one of the most beautiful cities in the world–Charleston, South Carolina. Aiming to be the top Film Festival on the East Coast, CHSIFF supports the art and science of Film by showcasing independent film makers and screenwriters from all over the world, in addition to offering educational workshops and screening opportunities.

Taking a "dramatic" turn from previous years, the 2014 campaign included a completely reimagined creative direction, revised marketing collateral, a new web presence, and a wide-spread advertising campaign that featured underground teaser ads warning Charleston to "Expect Drama."

ART DIRECTION / MARKETING
GRAPHIC DESIGN / ADVERTISING
COPYWRITING / WEB DESIGN

©CSA Images/French Paper

Phillip Katz Project Development (PKPD) has been supplying professional design and management services since 1999. Offering a wide range of services to diverse clients, their expertise lies in the design of Sacred Spaces.

When redesigning the PKPD website, our goal was to put the work front and center, while maintaining easy access to vital information. To do this, we established a strategic content hierarchy and minimal navigation that wouldn't compete with Phil's stunning work.

STRATEGY / WEB DESIGN

Levittron Concepts is an Atlanta GA based entertainment production company that handles everything from event design to site management. Utilizing cutting edge tech and over a decade of experience on the ground, Levittron puts on one hell of a show – heavy on the badass lighting.

To express the extent of their awesomeness, owner Aaron Levitt needed a brand that spoke to the company's professionalism and capabilities without losing touch with their edginess. The resulting brand features an "LC" icon which invokes shafts of light and a three dimensional frame, supported by a typographic system that screams space-age robot invasion. A website was then developed, and team members were armed with florescent glow business cards that wouldn't be lost in the crowd.

BRANDING / LOGO DESIGN
COLLATERAL / WEB DESIGN

Showcasing fashion designers, retailers, and models, Charleston Fashion Week® has become one of the premier fashion weeks in North America. This five-night multimedia event features more than 40 runway shows, The Spring Bridal Show, Emerging Designer Competition: East, and the Rock the Runway Model Competition™.

In anticipation of their 9th year, CFW set out to completely revamp their marketing materials. To do this, we utilized their wealth of rich visuals, minimized and clarified content, injected color, and polished the presentation. The result is atmospheric, sophisticated and bold.

ART DIRECTION / GRAPHIC DESIGN
MARKETING

Northern Beer Traders is a family owned distributor located just north of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Established in 1986, it's sister location Vecenie Distributing Company has been pushing hops since 1933. Dedicated to their local customers and a strong supporter of American craft labels, Northern Beer Traders sought to update their image to reflect a growing selection and knowledgeable staff. The new mark reworks traditional label elements and incorporates icons that were important to the family who owns the business – including polar bears, swaying pines and big frothy pints.

BRANDING / LOGO DESIGN
ILLUSTRATION / LETTERING