Procreate & InDesign, 2026
The Shady Hollow series tells of murder mysteries in a woodland community, solved by the fox detective Vera Vixen. With such a cozy and inviting aesthetic, my friend and fellow designer Hayley Blonstein and I decided to collaborate on a cookbook based on the charming in-story diner Joe’s Mug and its dishes.
As Hayley determined the best fonts for the woodsy aesthetic and the layout of the type, I worked on finding the best illustration style to match. I experimented with different brushes in Procreate that had soft and chalky textures that remind me of a forest environment with an adorable cafe run by critters. I ultimately decided on a chalky color fill, with a light pencil line work.
While the tasks of illustration (done by me) and typography (done by Hayley) were mostly split in half, we met weekly over the course of one month for critique sessions. During these sessions, we would provide feedback on each other’s work and bring the pieces together in a shared Figma file. This was a truly unique and enjoyable experience, as we hadn’t collaborated on projects while in university together!
As Hayley determined the best fonts for the woodsy aesthetic and the layout of the type, I worked on finding the best illustration style to match. I experimented with different brushes in Procreate that had soft and chalky textures that remind me of a forest environment with an adorable cafe run by critters. I ultimately decided on a chalky color fill, with a light pencil line work.
While the tasks of illustration (done by me) and typography (done by Hayley) were mostly split in half, we met weekly over the course of one month for critique sessions. During these sessions, we would provide feedback on each other’s work and bring the pieces together in a shared Figma file. This was a truly unique and enjoyable experience, as we hadn’t collaborated on projects while in university together!
