Final Work
Print Design
Campaign Photography
The Grounding Object
Polished + Plated Bronze
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The collaboration launched with a dynamic dance event where select attendees received items from the collection, and were guided through a meditative dance workshop by Kate Mcleod, in a space framed with large scale campaign prints. The event culminated with an introduction to the collection, and the story of its development, and a participatory reflection on the movement experience.
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Sep 2023
Dancing Lotus with Kate Mcleod
A multi sensory collaboration exploring personal wellness as the starting point for community engagement
Story
The collaboration began when Kate came to visit our Studio, and upon picking up a palm sized bronze sculpture, remarked on its substantial weight.
Goal
Object
The limited edition collaboration included a polished bronze grounding object, intended to aid meditation in times of duress, along with a set of Kate Mcleod's solid moisturizing stones and mini pebbles in a special Blue Lotus scent.
Outcomes
The Blue Lotus stones and pebble sets sold out completely, and the collection was covered by WWD. The collaboration increased the KHIRY total subscribed email list by 10%.
Final Work
Print Design
Campaign Photography
The Grounding Object
Polished + Plated Bronze
The collaboration launched with a dynamic dance event where select attendees received items from the collection, and were guided through a meditative dance workshop by Kate Mcleod, in a space framed with large scale campaign prints. The event culminated with an introduction to the collection, and the story of its development, and a participatory reflection on the movement experience.
Print Design Process
Initial Concept Sketch
Distinct feminine forms, move in unison. Figure style draws upon the KHIRY Moving Together Motif, Aaron Douglas Paintings, and Matisse's Dancing Ladies
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V1
The initial translation of this idea was designed to fit a full sized version of Kate Mcleod's body stone, which is sold in a bamboo twist-top canister. The sleeve design meant the need for a very wide and short composition.
I first thought it might save time to integrate AI directly in the composition. I generated several images using illustration prompts for characters in different types of motion that told the story of the collaboration; dance, meditation+ yoga, and activism. I selected aspects of the generated images and composited them using Procreate, to form an initial composition to fit the unique aspect ratio.
V2
Still, upon review with the KM team, we agreed that the resulting graphic wasn't cohesive enough, and didn't fully deliver on the simplicity, ease, modernity and emotionality of the first rough sketch. Thus, I decided to draft an original composition by hand. I used a tonal color palette that delivered a clear mood of, while employing some signature aspects of Aaron Douglass' painterly style to create visual depth and space for a range of characters and scenes. This version was adopted for print.
"Our Peace, Our Power"
V3
Ultimately though, the packaging direction shifted to meet margin and timeline constraints, from the bamboo canisters to a flat sleeve pull-out box design. The brief shifted to incorporate a repeat pattern, with more prominent use of the lotus motif. My First pass was the below:
V Final Vector
Photo Direction
The photoshoot took inspiration from classic fashion photography and portraiture, with references of multiples in dynamic motion, and bodies in angular compositions (Avedon, Givenchy, Avedon for Versace). I also pulled in references from this iconic shoot of Warhol and Basquiat, a subconscious reference to the convergence of KHIRY and KM's distinct audiences, in a masterful and surprising limited collection. Black and White lent a classic glamour, keeping the emphasis on gestures of the bodies in motion.
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Object Design
I began the object design process by quickly hand sketching several possible options, marrying the two iconic forms of the KHIRY Khartoum Silhouette and Kate Mcleod's circular domed body stone. I then modeled the final selected design in Rhino and rendered it in Keyshot
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Process
Print Design Process
Initial Concept Sketch
Distinct feminine forms, move in unison. Figure style draws upon the KHIRY Moving Together Motif, Aaron Douglas Paintings, and Matisse's Dancing Ladies
V1
The initial translation of this idea was designed to fit a full sized version of Kate Mcleod's body stone, which is sold in a bamboo twist-top canister. The sleeve design meant the need for a very wide and short composition.
I first thought it might save time to integrate AI directly in the composition. I generated several images using illustration prompts for characters in different types of motion that told the story of the collaboration; dance, meditation+ yoga, and activism. I selected aspects of the generated images and composited them using Procreate, to form an initial composition to fit the unique aspect ratio.
V2
Still, upon review with the KM team, we agreed that the resulting graphic wasn't cohesive enough, and didn't fully deliver on the simplicity, ease, modernity and emotionality of the first rough sketch. Thus, I decided to draft an original composition by hand. I used a tonal color palette that delivered a clear mood of, while employing some signature aspects of Aaron Douglass' painterly style to create visual depth and space for a range of characters and scenes. This version was adopted for print.
"Our Peace, Our Power"
V3
Ultimately though, the packaging direction shifted to meet margin and timeline constraints, from the bamboo canisters to a flat sleeve pull-out box design. The brief shifted to incorporate a repeat pattern, with more prominent use of the lotus motif. My First pass was the below:
V Final Vector
Photo Direction
The photoshoot took inspiration from classic fashion photography and portraiture, with references of multiples in dynamic motion, and bodies in angular compositions (Avedon, Givenchy, Avedon for Versace). I also pulled in references from this iconic shoot of Warhol and Basquiat, a subconscious reference to the convergence of KHIRY and KM's distinct audiences, in a masterful and surprising limited collection. Black and White lent a classic glamour, keeping the emphasis on gestures of the bodies in motion.
Object Design
I began the object design process by quickly hand sketching several possible options, marrying the two iconic forms of the KHIRY Khartoum Silhouette and Kate Mcleod's circular domed body stone. I then modeled the final selected design in Rhino and rendered it in Keyshot
