Calyx Design

A fantastic and quirky guitar maker tucked into an unassuming Sacramento Valley town — to connect with the world of potential customers, Joe Dragony needed a website. »

When a charming, potty-mouthed marketing genius sends me an email with the subject “Make me into a sexy logo, please”, I pay attention. And get busy. »

The “Dissolve-O-Matic” is the latest in the series of illustrations created for Havi Brooks’ self-work products, in the quirky style semi-officially dubbed “Steampunk meets Yellow Submarine”… »

My client calls me from the road, suddenly struck by a marketing vision. “Richard, I know what our next ad’s gotta be!” As he describes this revelation, I see that he’s on to something … »

Steve and his partner Dan are both musicians and artisans, so their brand was constructed to evoke reassuringly been-there-forever master craftsmanship — and a sense of authentic connection with this century’s working musicians … »

Presenting “Nellie”, pinup girl #3 in the Spicy SinSations brand mascots series. This irreverently good-natured purveyor of adult toys is located in Portland, Oregon, center of a recent explosion of music, arts, and eco-positive hipster street culture. It’s a young and vibrant scene … »

Presenting “Candace”, pinup girl #2 in the series of brand mascots created for Spicy SinSations. I created each of the girls to speak to a different demographic sector, and “Candace “speaks to a suburbanite woman — the mother next door with a bit of sexy flair … »

Presenting the first of the “Spicy Pinup Girls”, a series of mascots created especially for Spicy SinSations “naughty+fun” brand. This first pinup was created especially for use on a sponsorship banner at Portland’s hip new roller derby league, the Rose City Rollers … »

Spicy SinSations is a Portland, Oregon-based business specializing in — how shall I put this — “marital aids”. The existing logo was an undistinguished script typeface, and the owner realized that she needed something that said fun, friendly, and just a little bit naughty. »

The Santa Cruz Harley-Davidson dealership expanded into a second home near Watsonville in 2001. The demographics of this region called for a different look, somewhat heavier and more “Harley” than the parent store. The Green Valley logo features the eagle wings necessary to communicate… »

In honor of their name, Roshambo Winery hosts a “Rock Paper Scissors” Tournament every year. This year’s poster theme was swiped from the stylish “Flamingo Resort” in which the showdown was held. »

It was practically an absurdist concept — a winery goes on the road? After parting ways with an outdated property, Roshambo Winery needed a temporary home while their new digs were under construction. Voila, the “Roshambus”, Batmobile to Roshambo’s “Party Army”. »

Another example of extending the Roshambo Winery brand. This marketing piece is designed to communicate the unique brand values, display and sell the wines, and tell the story of the small winery’s history. »

Havi Brooks will inform you that she’s not at all a visual person, but when digging for ways to describe her series of self-work programs, eBooks and audio products, the images that popped up were “big, crazy, friendly machines”. … »

Nothing says Harley-Davidson more than the eagle which has graced its corporate logo since the turn of the century. I borrowed that eagle’s wing, a stylized verson thereof, for the Santa Cruz dealership’s logo and business papers. »

Another full page ad developed for Santa Cruz Harley-Davidson’s prized inside-front-cover spot in Thunder Press, a position occupied since the turn of the most recent century. »

The graphic hands that grace these bottles are familiar to any child who know’s the right way to settle the problem of “who gets the front seat”: Rock, Paper, Scissors. »

The illustrations stamped into this series of wine labels feature the combatants in an ancient child’s game: Rock, Paper, Scissors. As the source of Roshambo Winery’s playful name, these three elemental icons have been pressed into service to distinguish their line of higher-end wines. »

Veronica! The first of a pair of stylized pinup girls astride vintage motorcycles, both created for the Santa Cruz Harley dealership. She made her debut in a print advertisement, but popular demand soon brought her to T-shirts … »

Thematic illustration of the vintage Harley Davidson dealership in Santa Cruz, California. The colors and layout reflect both the California coast and Roaring Twenties when the building was new. »