Texas Longboat Mead Branding Studies
Overview
A personal branding and packaging project created during the COVID lockdown, combining a shared identity with distinctive illustrated labels.
My Role
Brand concept, logo design, illustration, label design, and packaging preparation.
01 \ Finding the Identity
I started making mead during lockdown and developed a brand for bottles I shared with friends and family. I treated it as a design brief: establish the identity, then explore how it could work across different flavors and labels.
I wanted the name and logo to connect Texas with a Viking influence while keeping the design accessible and contemporary. A simple palette, readable lettering, and an iconic longboat formed the core identity.
02 \ Designing the Labels
I created the artwork in Illustrator, including the 3D chess pieces used for Red Queen, and built layouts to fit the bottle labels. Each flavor had its own name and visual character within the broader brand.
The range included Honey Thunder, Red Queen, Dark Waters, Golden Solstice, CranRazzMaTazz, and Black Goat. The labels gave me room to explore different illustration styles while keeping the packaging recognizable as a collection.
03 \ Sharing the Work
I bottled, labeled, and delivered the mead to friends and family. Their feedback extended beyond the drink: several asked for prints, shirts, or posters featuring the artwork.
I expanded the identity into shirts and a commissioned Viking shield. The project became an opportunity to develop a brand across packaging and other objects, with direct feedback from the people receiving it.