Kona's blends the exciting escapism of a tiki bar with the welcome, familiar feeling of being in a lived-in home.
"Kona's: where strays become family"
PROJECT SCOPE: Branding, Illustration, Menu Design, Custom Typography, 3D Modeling Product Design, Merchandise Design, Web Design, Social Media
PROJECT DURATION: March 2026 6 Weeks
TOOLS USED: Illustrator, Photoshop, Blender, Figma
The brand is centered around Kona, a stray dog, who wandered up to a front door and found himself a loving family. I wanted the pathos of Kona's story to carry into all of the branding. I started with competitor research, mood boards and style scapes before jumping into creation of the custom typeface. I then moved onto menu design, 3D modeling, and illustration. This is an original branding project.
Custom Typeface
From research, to sketching, to designing in Illustrator
Kona’s wanted a playful, dynamic typeface that felt at home in their midcentury restaurant and took inspiration from other tiki fonts, while still standing out in the market. Each letter took inspiration from the geometric, architectural lines of midcentury design. With a careful balance of curves and sharp edges, the font reflects the attitude of the muse, Kona, who is equally sweet, playful, and mischievous.
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz
3D Modeling (Blender)
A Scorpion Bowl is a traditional tiki cocktail served in a large ceramic bowl, often with a volcano-shaped center for fire. It's a communal party drink typically meant to be shared by 3-4 people. In order to help Kona’s fully realize their brand potential, I sculpted a 3D model of a Tiki Scorpion Bowl in the shape of a dog’s water dish to celebrate their mascot, with the wordmark engraved into the front of the ceramic dish.
