We’ve partnered with Argyle on many projects over the years. From developing new brands and brand extensions, we designed almost every part of their current design system. We ushered in the the new look for Nuthouse and Spirithouse wines, as well as developing new and delicious looking Sparkling Rosé bottlings. We also designed their most elevated offerings, the Extended Tirage wines. Everything from vineyard driven still wines, to holiday promotions.
“Chris has been great to work with. He’s responsive and thoughtful in his approach and always produces solution that are on target. He get’s us.”
Chris Cullina
Argyle Winery (General Manager 2010-2018)
Domaine Drouhin Oregon wanted to give the Rose Rock Vineyard the respect it deserved. So rather than incorporate that vineyard into the DDO brand, they chose to launch a new label to house the wines from this amazing vineyard. Starting with simple “rose” and “rock” illustrations, the design is kept classic and clean, both to align with the tradition of DDO, but also to focus the eye on the central illustration. The labels are printed on a textured, uncoated stock and use minimal embellishments. The reserve tier labels introduce some new artwork, and a gold foil treatment. Overall, the effect is elegant and timeless.
To celebrate their famed LoneStar Vineyard, Argyle Winery asked us to work on a very special project. A commemorative label and custom wooden box that would be made available to special customers, and revealed during a day long celebration. The label, borrowing from both the name of vineyard, as well as the deep Texas roots of winemaker Rollin Soles, is a custom shape and size, printed on kraft with a high build gloss treatment. The wooden box is branded inside and out, and includes a map of the Willamette Valley as well as details about the wine. All commemorative wine was sold in box sets and each set was hand numbered.
“We worked with Chris on a number of projects ranging from special bottlings like LoneStar to holiday programs, as well as a complete overhaul of our labeling system. He’s creative as well as logical, and brings a lot to the table… including some beautiful design work.”
Chris Cullina
Argyle Winery
Starting with an idea for a logo, Ordnance Brewing hired us to help with labels, and we ended up building their entire packaging system. We started with the core products, and later worked on seasonal beers and special bottlings, as well as some distilled spirits. Boardman, Oregon has a history anchored in industry, and in also by a nearby World War 2 airfare training range. The packaging borrows from that rich, and hard scrabble history, and brings a echoes of the past, and a modern feel to the brand.
“NowDesign is great to work with. They took our logo idea and ran with it, bringing our brand and labeling system fully to life.”
Dewey Weddington
Marketing Director (former)
We were initially asked to help develop a new, super premium tier for Domaine Drouhin. From the first meeting, the Edition Limitée project was hyper-focused and wide ranging. We explored many different possible directions, and even developed a new Rosé label along the way. The process was a true partnership of creativity and refinement. Working closely with our print vendors ensured that our focus and attention to detail paid off. The end product is a label of superior elegance and craft, and reflects the super premium nature of the wine and the DDO Brand.
Since that first project, we’ve continued to work with the Domaine Drouhin team to develop new labels, refresh the main DDO label system, and develop accompanying marketing materials, advertisement and sales tools.
“It takes a lot of skill and patience to navigate our aesthetic needs, which balance refinement and tradition with a modern feel. Chris understands ‘who we are,’ and helps to make sure our design work reflects that. We often work on microscopic details and adjustments, which I imagine would have others pulling their hair out, but not Chris. He makes us better, and he’s a pleasure to work with.”
David Millman
Domaine Drouhin Oregon
As our studio began working with local breweries, developing new identities, brands and labeling systems, we thought it would be a good idea to understand the beer making process. So we got some home brewing equipment and got busy. We had a lot of fun, made a huge mess and in the end made a beer so good, it really needed it’s own label. The result is the Pour Excuse Brewing Company label. We made several recipes over the years, but the fist batch, No. 1, holds a special place in our heart.
The label is designed with a grungy, garage aesthetic reflecting the hand-made nature of the brew, and the garage where it came to life. Textured paper, in-house printing and hand-labeling ensured an off kilter, imperfect label that reflects it’s roots.
The Mad Violets label design project began with a meeting at a coffee shop. Very quickly, I realized these two individuals were not interested in old world tradition. Their love of farming, their free spirit, and their sense of whimsy overrode my initial inclinations and took the project in a unique direction.
A touch of turn of the century decoupage, along with original drawings by Kelly and Stirling’s daughter, makes for label with old world charm and home spun sensibility. The package was finished with a hand applied neck label instead of a capsule in order to further the hand made message, and to reduce the carbon footprint. The result is a sophisticated and special label that represents the boutique-crafted wine as well as the family perfectly.
“Working with Chris on our many label iterations is always a thrill! The creativity that flows through his brain is truly impressive, not to mention his expertise in the area of wine label design which is priceless when it comes to navigating the TTB waters.”
— Kelly Kidneigh and Stirling Fox
Mad Violets Wine Company
We partnered with Ten Pin Brewing in Moses Lake Washington to develop a labeling system for the start up brewery. Ten Pin is an offshoot business venture that evolved out of the family owned bowling alley of the same name. We designed the main structure of the label based on the X (a strike in bowling score keeping) and gave each product it’s own color and texture.
The font selection is a deliberate marriage of modern and retro, reflecting not only traditional bowling culture but also the family business that started in the 1950’s. The product list has grown to several products in glass and label, as well as a core set of beers they offer in cans. Ten Pin has a culture of experimentation, so has an almost constant rotation of new products on tap at their Moses Lake tasting room.
Westmount was developed for Northwest Wine Company as premium national brand to carry their wines to every corner of the USA. The label is decidedly contemporary including the closure, and is a reflection of the team at NW Wines – younger, outdoorsy and uniquely Northwest.
The full wrap label includes information about the wines including technical information about the vineyard, wine making process, and barreling program details. The clean, modern aesthetic with ample white space, projects a strong visual presence on store shelves and bar shelves alike. It’s a strong confident brand that speaks of confidence and quality.
“Chris is the best- yes, he’s creative, but he’s also brilliant. He’s collaborative and thoughtful and can take a vision of something or an idea and translate it into a tangible work of art that exceeds the original idea or concept. We went to Chris with a name and a feeling, and he created a brand.”
— Robert Mosier
NW Wine Company
J. Wrigley Vineyards is the creation of Jody and Jody Wrigley. Cleared, planted and maintained by John and Jody themselves, J. Wrigley Vineyards is a love story in many ways. It’s an obsession and the story of family members old and new. In short, it’s personal.
The label design is based on a JW monogram of sorts, and uses a simple, clean layout that lets the type read clearly. The wines are often named for personal details of their journey, including Proposal Block pinot noir. The labels use a natural color palette, organic but austere. The labels employ high end, but reserved print techniques for a high end presentation..
“John and I met Chris of Now Design before we had wine in a bottle! That was 10 years ago and we have never looked elsewhere. Once you have conceptualized your design, Chris masterfully brings your brand to life which saves time on future development projects. We wouldn’t consider anyone else.”
— Jody and Jody Wrigley
JWrigley Vineyards
