I had a hankerin' for some sushi, so naturally I began sketching.

As I was sketching, I was thinking about how this craving could evolve into a real project. I moved on to illustration work in Adobe Illustrator.

Each sushi roll piece and everything contained within is actually a single circle that has been given a complex appearance in Illustrator. It was a challenge to position and shape all of the sushi contents using appearances, but in the end it allowed me to create graphic styles that can be appled to any shape with a single click.

After creating the three illustrations, I made a Symbol out of each of them so that it would be simpler to change the illustration if necessary after duplications had been made.

I began experimenting with type. First I tried some installed fonts, then I installed new fonts, and finally I concluded that a bespoke typeface would be necessary. I tried hand-drawn typography first.

After exhausting that direction, I focused in on what I really wanted to accomplish with the type which was to express a seemingly important message while matching the bright aesthetic of the rest of the illustrations. So, I came up with this typeface which is sort of a sylized digital clock display.

Altogether, the piece ended up being fun and attractive. I'll be proud to hang it in my kitchen.

The size of the font is what really helped to achieve the seeming seriousness of the message. Viewers have to come close and lean in to read what it says, but when they get to it all they discover is a funny little one-liner. Ha! Got 'em.

Thanks!