2019 Year of the boar - New Year card

When I started to sketch out ideas for the new year card, I remembered that the client had sent me a link to an article about a Japanese fireworks catalog from the 1800s. As I scrolled through the wonderful images (https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2018/11/japanese-firework-illustrations/) the concept for the design came to life. Influenced by the Japanese style and look, which was also right in line with the company’s aesthetic, I used a vertical orientation and minimalist look on the message side of the card. Listing the traits for the Year of the Boar worked perfectly to give balance to the overall design and was a clean and simple way to send well wishes to Daruma’s clients, friends and family for the upcoming year. Printed on 130 lb. card stock, the heft gave the card a nice feel.

Concept and design by Laurie Arakaki
Fireworks artwork from J. Hirayama Fireworks catalog
Daruma/Boars illustration by Perori

business card

Concept and design by Laurie Arakaki

2018 don’t be cookie cutter - New Year Card

Daruma Capital Management and its CEO, Mariko Gordon, are anything but cookie cutter, yet she had a very cool Daruma-shaped one that she wanted to use in the new year card. So how do you use a cookie cutter to represent a very non-cookie cutter company? It was a tough but fun challenge, which led me to come up with a story of our little guy breaking out from the pack of boring circle cookies. The home baking setting tied in well with the holiday season, and the image illustrated Daruma’s uniqueness and hands-on approach. There’s also a subtle nod to Daruma’s mantra of “seven times down, eight times up” as there are seven circles lying flat, but Daruma, the eighth, is up.

Concept, design, photography by Laurie Arakaki

Daruma webpage

Concept and design by Laurie Arakaki

Change of address announcement

Design by Laurie Arakaki