AILEEN NIIZAWA : : ART DIRECTOR + GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Brand Identity • Packaging • Marketing Campaigns • Print & Digital • Environmental Design
Pillars of Hercules
Wine Brand - Art Direction
Case box packaging
and point of sale materials
Credits -
"Pillars of Hercules" typography: Alexandra Snowdon
Cerberus and Hercules Illustration:
Steven Noble
The bold character of Pillars of Hercules carried through every promotional and point-of-sale piece. Brochures, sell sheets, and supporting materials were designed to reinforce the strength and distinctive personality of the red wine brand.
The winery owner really liked the idea of using cylinders to send wine samples to VIPs. The search was on to find ones that would work to fit the wine bottles and to stay within the tight budget. I designed the label to wrap completely around the exterior of the cardboard cylinders. For the wine bottle wraps, I angled the artwork to fit on a tabloid-sized page to fit nicely around the bottles. For a low-cost, we were able to achieve a high end look.
For the inaugural tasting room display, I wanted to create a sense of opulence that reflected the power of ancient Greek culture and the bold character of Pillars of Hercules. I had the illustration printed on canvas, then cut it into a banner shape. To create
the look of a traditional hanging flag, I cut a 1.5" dowel to size, added cabinet pulls to each end, and painted the hardware for
a finished effect.
For added drama, I built a frame beneath the chandelier and suspended strands of gold-leaf ribbon from it, creating a shimmering, celebratory backdrop. Photo credit: Heather Gwerder Photography.
Impactful outdoor signage was created using 48" x 48" UV-coated graphics printed on 6 mil PVC. These durable, low-cost signs provided a bold and highly visible way to promote the new wine brand.
