Overview
DC Brunchies is a playful, food-focused event concept created for my advertising design class. The project challenged us to create a full brand identity for a made-up event in collaboration with Washington.org and MetroDC, with the goal of highlighting local small businesses in Washington, D.C.. I developed an original event centered around one of D.C.’s favorite pastimes—brunch—and brought it to life through illustration, hand-lettering, and a cheerful visual system that feels just as inviting as a warm stack of pancakes on a Sunday morning.
DC Brunchies is a playful, food-focused event concept created for my advertising design class. The project challenged us to create a full brand identity for a made-up event in collaboration with Washington.org and MetroDC, with the goal of highlighting local small businesses in Washington, D.C.. I developed an original event centered around one of D.C.’s favorite pastimes—brunch—and brought it to life through illustration, hand-lettering, and a cheerful visual system that feels just as inviting as a warm stack of pancakes on a Sunday morning.
My Role
Brand Designer, Illustrator, Advertising & Campaign Designer
I created the full brand identity, designed all deliverables, illustrated custom assets (including the toast mascot!), and wrote all supporting content.
Brand Designer, Illustrator, Advertising & Campaign Designer
I created the full brand identity, designed all deliverables, illustrated custom assets (including the toast mascot!), and wrote all supporting content.
Tools
Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop
Concept & Event Vision
The event I created—DC Brunchies—is a curated brunch festival showcasing local D.C. restaurants and small food businesses. The goal was to foster community engagement, celebrate culinary creativity, and support small businesses through a vibrant, approachable, and well-promoted campaign. I wanted the tone to be fun, lighthearted, and community-driven—something that felt like a joyful celebration of food and local pride.
The event I created—DC Brunchies—is a curated brunch festival showcasing local D.C. restaurants and small food businesses. The goal was to foster community engagement, celebrate culinary creativity, and support small businesses through a vibrant, approachable, and well-promoted campaign. I wanted the tone to be fun, lighthearted, and community-driven—something that felt like a joyful celebration of food and local pride.
The identity centers around hand-lettered typography, illustrated brunch icons, and a custom toast mascot, who appears across the campaign to give the event personality and charm.
Deliverables & Design Execution
Metro SmarTrip Card Design
I created a branded design for a limited-edition SmarTrip card to promote the event through Washington’s transit system—turning a daily object into a collectible, shareable piece of event identity.
I created a branded design for a limited-edition SmarTrip card to promote the event through Washington’s transit system—turning a daily object into a collectible, shareable piece of event identity.
Bus Wrap Design
The campaign included a full bus ad to circulate throughout D.C., designed to catch attention with vibrant colors, bold illustration, and key event information. I ensured the layout worked dynamically from different viewing angles, making it functional and fun.
The campaign included a full bus ad to circulate throughout D.C., designed to catch attention with vibrant colors, bold illustration, and key event information. I ensured the layout worked dynamically from different viewing angles, making it functional and fun.
Event Signage & Environmental Graphics
I designed banners, posters, and even floor decals/stickers to be used at the event site—offering an immersive, branded environment that’s visually cohesive and interactive for attendees.
I designed banners, posters, and even floor decals/stickers to be used at the event site—offering an immersive, branded environment that’s visually cohesive and interactive for attendees.
Instagram Carousel (Social Media Campaign)
To promote the event online, I designed a multi-slide Instagram carousel that introduced the event, showcased participating vendors, and shared key dates and info in an engaging, scroll-friendly way. I kept the style cohesive with the brand’s tone—illustrative, warm, and designed for shareability.
To promote the event online, I designed a multi-slide Instagram carousel that introduced the event, showcased participating vendors, and shared key dates and info in an engaging, scroll-friendly way. I kept the style cohesive with the brand’s tone—illustrative, warm, and designed for shareability.
Challenges
The biggest challenge was creating a system that would translate across so many formats and contexts—from small digital screens to large physical buses—while keeping everything cohesive and accessible. I also had to make sure the brand felt bold enough to grab attention, but soft and playful enough to stay approachable. And because everything was drawn and illustrated by hand, it required a lot of detailed work to ensure consistency across every element.
The biggest challenge was creating a system that would translate across so many formats and contexts—from small digital screens to large physical buses—while keeping everything cohesive and accessible. I also had to make sure the brand felt bold enough to grab attention, but soft and playful enough to stay approachable. And because everything was drawn and illustrated by hand, it required a lot of detailed work to ensure consistency across every element.
Outcome
DC Brunchies is a campaign that reflects my love for food, community, and storytelling through design. It’s playful, unified, and full of character—just like the city it was built for. This project allowed me to combine illustration, advertising, branding, and environmental design into one experience, and it remains one of the most joyful and creatively fulfilling pieces in my portfolio.
DC Brunchies is a campaign that reflects my love for food, community, and storytelling through design. It’s playful, unified, and full of character—just like the city it was built for. This project allowed me to combine illustration, advertising, branding, and environmental design into one experience, and it remains one of the most joyful and creatively fulfilling pieces in my portfolio.
