During my eight-month graphic design internship with Espionage Cosmetics, I participated in many projects where I designed product packaging, advertising, social media graphics (as well as managing the Espionage Cosmetics tumblr blog), and more. During the internship, I was able to do concept and design work independently as well as in collaboration with other designers and makeup artists. Here are just some of the projects I designed while at Espionage Cosmetics.
Three designs (typographic and illustrative) done for the Espionage Cosmetics apparel line, which launched as backer prizes for their "But Wait There's Moar!" Kickstarter.
The designs have been utilized on various apparel products for the company, including: t-shirts, beanies and buttons. The "Glitter Is The New Black" design was aimed at young adult females, but the intent of this design was to appeal to the female and male customers who love to support the company.
The Unicorn designs were aimed at young adult females and were meant as a reference to the idea that female nerds are not a rarity and are actually a large part of the "nerd" demographic.
Specifically intended to be used on t-shirts, the design was so well received on social media, the company later decided to expand the “Nerd Unicorn” design to other products and advertising graphics, including: buttons, keychains, nail wraps and unicorn-themed bath bombs.
Example images from Espionage Cosmetics "But Wait There's Moar!" kickstarter.
T-shirt designs modeled by actress, Ashley Johnson
Additional T-shirt designs for the "But Wait There's Moar!" kickstarter.
Nailed It! Nail Wrap Designs
During my internship, I designed and illustrated more than 20 Nailed It! designs for Espionage Cosmetics that are currently available online, in retail locations, and at conventions. These designs required research of the consumer audience and the books, series, movies and games associated with each design. The Nailed It! designs required me to be adaptable in terms of design and ability to mimic a variety of different styles and genres. Many designs required digital painting, and both digital and traditional illustration elements.
Example images of nail wrap designs in use from the Espionage Cosmetics store
Nailed It! by Espionage Cosmetics, is an easy-to-use nail art product that features designs for “nerd culture.”
"Minion" Recruitment Posters
This was a poster design project for Espionage Cosmetics to advertise “minion” positions available within the company at conventions like Emerald City Comic Con.
They were primarily illustrative with three variations of the featured “Nerd Girl” character to highlight diversity. The character design and poster format are meant to reference the iconic World War II Rosie the Riveter poster by J. Howard Miller, to appeal to girls and women by communicating the idea of Girl Power within nerd culture. I also wanted to reference the makeup theme by using the makeup brush holster and Nailed It! nail wraps. I designed two versions for web and print.
Social Sale Graphics & Printed Media
While at Espionage Cosmetics, I would also typically design graphics for sales and promotions that were used on social media or printed as flyers. Here are just a few examples of digital assets using a mix of vector graphics and photographed products.
And here are a few examples of printed literature that was handed out at conventions and sent as instructions in customer orders. The intent was to provide clear instructions for customers on how to apply the Nailed It! nail wraps.
In order to connect with nerd culture to appeal to the Espionage Cosmetics demographic, I used comic book iconography and layout design and focused on clear and informative graphics.
