As a child, I always loved art and often wondered how artists become truly successful. My parents were my biggest supporters and encouraged me to develop my creativity every step of the way. Whether it meant providing the tools to imagine a purple octopus on the moon or supporting arts-infused learning in the classroom, their encouragement shaped my passion for creativity. Artist Mode was created to help parents and educators nurture creatively confident children who grow into inspired and original adults. Our studio is a unique space that brings everything together under one roof — offering a wide range of natural, eco-friendly art products along with in-store workshops for all skill levels.

For the paint-stroke elements, I drew inspiration from visual references with an artistic, handcrafted feel. These strokes help communicate Artist Mode as a creative and expressive brand. For the typography, I looked to the Arts Midwest logo. Since the symbol already carries a strong artistic personality, I paired it with a clean, simple wordmark rather than a decorative script font, keeping the logo balanced and easy to read.

When we think of art, paintbrushes and palettes naturally come to mind. I created several sketches inspired by the idea of paintbrushes combined with script, sans-serif, and serif typefaces. For the final design, I selected the bottom-center concept featuring the letters A and M locked together in a clean sans-serif style.

Whenever the logo is used, it must be surrounded by a clear live area to maintain its visibility and impact. No graphic elements should enter this space. Clear Space (Live Area): To calculate the live area based on logo type:

• Vertical logo: Live area = x/4 (where x is the logo height)
• Horizontal logo: Live area = x/2 (where x is the logo height)
• Symbol: Live area = x/4 (where x is the logo height)
• Wordmark: Live area = x/2 (where x is the logo height)

Inspired by nature, the brand palette captures the core hues most frequently used across the logo, packaging, and collateral — forming the foundation of the brand's visual identity. The logo should appear only in these brand colors, black, or white, with a white version reserved for solid-color backgrounds. In select communications, the icon or text may appear on its own; otherwise, the complete logo should always be used.

Avenir is highly legible and dignified, making it an excellent choice for body text. Its sharp, high-contrast forms also work beautifully in elegant advertising. I often default to Avenir for writing and establishing body typography until a better option presents itself. For this project, however, I paired it with Baskerville for headlines. Baskerville has just enough character to make a stylistic statement while remaining neutral, readable, and effortlessly refined.

I have had a passion for art since a very young age, so I chose to incorporate my own sketches and paintings to create unique packaging. For Package 1, I used Prismacolor colored pencils, known for their exceptional quality and vibrant finish. For Package 2, I used Arteza watercolor paints to achieve a soft, handcrafted look. I then used Adobe Dimension to design and present the packaging in a realistic environment.

Every month, we host in-store workshops led by our collaborating artists. These three-day sessions are offered at Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. Click or tap Register Now, or visit artistmode.com to sign up for yourself or someone you know—and enjoy 10% off our products.