www.abbylarsen.com

The College of Mythic Cartography

The College of Mythic Cartography teaches young people the art of animal tracking in an urban setting through hands-on activities, storytelling and mythmaking. The College wanted a textured, illustrated logo that fused education, mystery, and the natural world. Elements of academic heraldry and antique maps were combined with organic motifs to create a coat of arms for the school that hinted at the wonders to be discovered by its students.

Business card, front and back

Logo close-up

Object Narrative Printed Catalog

This is the catalog which I authored and designed as an accompaniment to my Object Narrative thesis exhibit. The hardbound book is covered in red cloth, stamped in silver foil and lined with marbled endpapers to match the Object Narrative cabinet. Every artifact featured in the exhibition is catalogued within this volume (screen resolution pdf, shown as spreads, 1.7 mb).

FutureWorks Consulting

FutureWorks suffered from generic marketing materials that underrepresented their position as thought leaders in their industry. Our strategy was to design an identity that communicated their mission of possibilities through partnership, then craft a website that would prove their expertise. In addition to structuring, designing and programming the FutureWorks Consulting website, I currently maintain it.

Business Card, Front and Back

Website

Self-Promotional Booklet

This printed booklet offered a glimpse into my design process. The booklet was part of a package that came wrapped in a patterned envelope, tied with a red ribbon and accompanied by my business card.

Though the end product of my work is frequently a website or a digital file, all my projects begin with sketching ideas on paper. The spreads in the booklet feature thumbnail sketches and illustrations (from both professional and personal projects) facing information about my skills and abilities. Click the image below for a pdf (2.9 mb) of the booklet.

Holiday Card

Blue and silver ink printed on wove finish, deckle-edged card by Arturo.
Printed with a Gocco (miniature screen printing device). 5.12×3.35 inches.

Hardware Illustrations

Steel pen and ink on drafting vellum. Screenprintable designs for a hypothetical hardware store that caters to artists and other creative folks. The illustrations would appear singly on t-shirts, shopping bags, etc.

Instructional Illustration — Poach an Egg

“Describe a process in a minimum of 5 steps. Line art only.”
Black ink (.25 Rapidoliner) on Arches hot press watercolor paper.

Map

Ink on found paper. Click image for close-up.

Alexey Brodovitch Booklet

Front Cover

Example Spread

This piece is a brief biography of Alexey Brodovitch which I authored and designed as an academic project. The design is inspired by the influential work of its subject, Alexey Brodovitch, who — among other achievements — was art director at Harper’s Bazaar for more than 50 years and helped launch photographers like Richard Avedon and Lillian Pitt. View an excerpt (low resolution pdf, shown as spreads, 2.34mb).

Vatn Packaging

Package design for my own (hypothetical) bottled water brand, Vatn—spring water from Iceland. The minimal design and simple handlettered logotype is simultaneously modern and primitive.