Emily Makarainen, Artisane's graphic identity designer
When I started Artisane, in 2018, Emily was the first person to come on board with me.
The first time I met Emily, I knew right away that she understood my vision and would be the person to make Artisane's visual identity come to life. Thanks to her talent, Artisane's identity started to reveal...
Thank you Emily for your beautiful work and for answering my questions, I'm so excited for everyone to meet you!
Artisane's famous rose hand drawn by Emily
Can you please tell us about you, about your studio and your creations?
Originally from Connecticut, I now live in San Diego, California. After working at the world's largest design consultancy, Pentagram Design in Manhattan, I began Liisa Studio where I create branding and identity design for boutique clients who are looking for a minimal and elegant approach.
Emily, please tell us about you, about your studio and your creations?
Originally from Connecticut, I now live in San Diego, California. After working at the world's largest design consultancy, Pentagram Design in Manhattan, I began Liisa Studio where I create branding and identity design for boutique clients who are looking for a minimal and elegant approach.
What inspires you most in your creations?
I love nature, organic illustration and typography. Most of my family is from Finland, so I also pull a lot of inspiration from my Nordic background which helps me create a clean and minimal aesthetic in my work.
Why did you accept to collaborate with Artisane? What appealed to you in the project?
I was so excited for the opportunity to work with Artisane and bring together two female run businesses. I knew it would be a fun collaboration to bring Melanie's vision to life. I really love candles and I was happy to have a chance to design a brand for a product I use so frequently in my own life.
What were your sources of inspiration?
I loved that the scents were inspired by memories––I found inspiration in graphics that could be found in the French countryside and simplified and modernized the typography to best fit small labels. The color scheme uses slightly dustier hues while still allowing color to play a role. I wanted to include botanical illustrations that felt nostalgic and directly referenced the plants used for the scents.
Can you describe the branding & graphic design you created for Artisane?
Artisane's branding is friendly, elegant and romantic. It feels like the warmth you get from the scents.
What are the words that best describe these creations?
Comforting, Familiar, Feminine, Warm, Refined
You can find Emily's work at www.liisastudio.com
