Summer Culinary Pop-Up
From Modern Nostalgia to Moody DIY — Two Designs, One Event, One Happy Client
Client Need
Mary Dwan, a chef hosting a seasonal lunch pop-up for a popular Baltimore restaurant, wanted a flyer that felt like her — handmade, personal, and immediately recognizable to her audience. She needed an Instagram-friendly design that would:
Capture the tactile, immediate energy of her past creative projects.
Stand out in a crowded Instagram feed while blending seamlessly with the host restaurant’s popular account (14K followers).
Clearly communicate key event details so followers could see it, get it, and decide to attend in seconds.
Challenge
We began with a bright, nostalgic poster concept — a clean, Herman Miller–meets–Endless Summer poster design using a childhood photo — bright, playful, and rooted in personal nostalgia. Midway, Mary realized the event needed a darker, more immediate feel — so we pivoted together to create a moody, hand-lettered design built around her own photography.
My Solution
Version 1 — Modern Nostalgia
Clean, Herman Miller–meets–Endless Summer poster design
Used a childhood photo for a bright, playful, nostalgic tone
Balanced color blocking and type hierarchy for clarity and visual impact
Version 2 — Moody DIY (final chosen)
Lo-fi, hand-lettered style
Built around client’s own flash-lit rose photo taken at night
Designed for immediacy and intimacy, evoking handmade show flyers and zine culture
Black textured background for depth and grit
Results
Final flyer blended seamlessly with the restaurant’s Instagram feed, resonating with the target audience.
Delivered both professional polish and brand-authentic grit.
Showcased flexibility to adapt design direction while maintaining quality.
Portfolio Note
Displayed here with both versions to demonstrate style range and adaptability to client feedback.