I am thinking of design ideas in anticipation for my baby announcement and art for my baby’s room. I am just in the exploration stage exploring imagery and monograms.
I did the dragon sketches because she will be born in the year of the Dragon according to Chinese new year. She will be born in the year of the rabbit according to Cambodian new year (My wife is from Cambodia).
My Baby’s name will probably be Chanél Jensen. I would very much appreciate your feedback and critiques.
Like I’ve always said, “It’s never too early too begin a multi-functional branding strategy for your child.”
As far as type lockups I love the super ornate CJ at top, it becomes a nice illustration in it’s own right. It would be great to have a simple modern lockup to go with it, something that could be used at very small sizes and would provide a stark contrast to the ornamentation. It could just be the full name lockup that you have at bottom. I wouldn’t recommend the modern CJ lockup that’s in the middle center though, it a bit too tricky and doesn’t feel compatible. (On a side note: I also did a lockup with Sophie’s full name like this and delighted at the fact that there are the same number of letters in first and last name.)
The illustration with the dragon is really elegant and fun. I would say that it’s the hands down winner here but I think the more legitimate tie in with the rabbit and Vanny, your wife, makes more sense. Could you apply the same styling to a rabbit? I know it’s less ideal because the dragon is naturally sweeping but I think you could make it work.
Personally I’m not too excited about the word filled rabbit. That could totally just be me but I think it’s been really played out and really I’ve never been that excited about that design meme. But, again, that could just be me.
You’ve got some awesome stuff here. Keep it going!
Also, Carrie and I are so excited for you and your new daughter! Get prepared for the most incredible life change you will ever have. 98% of which is for the better.
First off, Congratulations Gavin. Having you first kid is pretty exciting.
I agree with John that, though the dragon is a cooler creature, the more personal and meaningful tie to rabbit makes it the obvious way to go. I’m not overly excited about any of the rabbit executions that you have so far, though, so I would keep pushing that area.
The monogram is also nice. If feel that it would be too easy to make it just pretty, as opposed to pretty and personal. Are there any little details that you can add that would have significant meaning to your family and her? Kind of like the rabbit, but probably not a rabbit.
Good luck on this. Projects with this much emotional weight are never easy to get just right.
Thanks for the feedback.
I have one clarification about the dragon and rabbit. In Southeast Asia, Chinese new year is often considered more “legitimate” than the traditional new year of the specific country. My wife who is from Cambodia is actually part Chinese and part Khmer (Cambodian). She knows her chinese calendar animal year (Rat) but I don’t think she knows her Cambodian animal year. So it is hard to say which is more meaningful and personal.
So you can see why I would be hesitant to discard the dragon. I will explore the rabbit more. Maybe I can somehow use both.
I love the idea of unifying the ornate CJ with a simple CJ lockup. I will also explore adding more symbolism to the ornate CJ.
Do the dragon then. I think I’d rather see variations on the dragon, as you’ve sketched, then to see both the dragon and the rabbit. But, if you find yourself with tons of time then… well do more dragons
lol