DBLDUTCH is a creative studio specializing in art, design, music and sound, based in Chicago.
Focused on collaboration with our clients and their brands, we foster an interdisciplinary creative process that results in comprehensive, informed, and unique solutions to their needs.
THE DILL PICKLE FOOD CO-OP - Interface + Newsletter Designs, Department Illustrations - The Dill Pickle Food Co-op came to us with a logo they wanted to retain, while developing a more robust brand identity to frame the website interface and in-store DIY signage within. The primary challenge was to identify the most successful components of their existing identity and parlay those references into a compatible and expandable brand system for website navigation, grocery/product departments, the Brine newsletter, print ads and signage. What emerged in our illustrations, palette application and wayfinding templates was a reinforcement of the hand-made, artisanal quality (and cheekiness) of the Dill Pickle brand, while allowing for the ongoing development of original/DIY content with a consistent look and feel from hand-drawn signage to blog post.
SCHWA - Identity + Interface Designs, Glyph Plating Editorial Photography - The first time we were seated at Schwa we were overwhelmed by the energy of the experience; The stereo was bumping hip-hop, staff were zigzagging between the kitchen and the dining area, tables of strangers were sharing beer, wine, spirits and anecdotes, and then (of course) the cuisine itself was at once elemental and kaleidoscopic. When it came time to assemble our notes on the experience and begin production, it was immediately clear that we need look no further than the vibrant plating and surreal landscape of Michael Carlson’s vision for visual cues. The resulting identity concept and design was a series of glyphs (the “schwa” symbol, itself) that had been “plated” by Chef Carlson as our team photographed and recorded the process. Palette selections were made directly from the ingredients and courses, and a dynamic set of plated glyphs made up the family of logos for use on the menus and website. Original copy for the site was developed alongside the designs, as well as original music from El-P and Polite for a series of stop-motion plating and chemical-gastronomy videos.
THE CENTER FOR CIVIC REFLECTION - Identity, Interface, Stationery + Book Cover Designs - Development of the CCR brand/identity relied upon satisfying two primary goals: Provide a distinct visual language for wayfinding and legibility in both print and web contexts, and compatibility with the existing Valparaiso University brand. The CCR web application includes a wide range of resources, content types, target audiences and use-cases, in addition to publications, print collateral and stationery. Factoring all of this into account resulted in an updated logo, palette, and typeface that borrowed from both existing CCR collateral and Valparaiso’s brand identity, with an emphasis on accommodating text-heavy content consistently across a variety of media and contexts.
WORKLOCAL COMMUNITY JOBS INITIATIVE - Identity, Interface + Collateral Designs - Development of the Worklocal.org Brand centered on simplification and synergy: specifically, the marriage of the concepts of “local industry” and “natural order.” While these concepts are somewhat at odds as both “holistic” and “commerce/results driven,” the Worklocal.org brand was developed to bridge this connotative gap, resulting in two distinct but sympathetic palettes (use-case specific), clean information design and illustration, and responsive, accessible template design.
THE MAYORAL TUTORIAL - Identity, Interface + Poster Designs, Bookplate/Editorial Illustrations - The Mayoral Tutorial is at once very flippant in tone and deeply serious in subject matter: Comedy vs. Politics. When developing the brand for this online publication, we wanted to reflect that duality in our design and illustration strategies, and across mobile and desktop media. The interface and bookplate illustrations that we developed were also intended to function as a dynamic library of imagery for a variety of potential use-cases (to allow Don to operate without our continued involvement), so they had to be specific enough to be entertaining, while abstract enough to be flexible/operate uniquely in context. After several iterations of both illustration styles and interface designs, we ended up with a publishing platform that Don can add content to on a daily basis, independent of ongoing editorial design or illustration, but contextualized by consistent, hand-drawn artwork and strong, clean typesetting.
ONE CHICAGO, ONE NATION - Branding, Poster Design + Illustration/Design Elements - When brought on to the OCON team, we set out to develop an updated brand for the project that shifted the visual emphasis from the constituent organizations to the community itself, relying heavily on a broad palette, photography and illustration to demonstrate that the focus and value of the OCON project is the diversity of the interfaith community as a whole. Borrowing from the visual landscape of the American Civil Rights movement, our goal was to establish continuity with the community outreach and organizing that has shaped Chicago’s cultural climate and vitality.
HAVE YOU SEEN THESE KIDS? - Identity, Interface + Stationery Design - When our production partners, HYSTK™, asked us to develop a logo and interface for them to showcase their work within, we set out to provide them with an identity and platform that would let their work speak for itself. For the logo itself, we wanted to provide them with an image that could function as a watermark (for video), a stencil (for flight-cases/gear when on site for a shoot), and that would reflect the type of work they were getting a reputation for themselves in, namely alternative sports, fashion, and music videos. The results were highly minimal, abstract, and striking, particularly alongside their rich creative output.
MOODY’S PUB - Interface design and Illustrations - Moody’s Pub has been a Chicago institution since 1959, so when Jake (the original owner’s son) approached us to develop a new website for them, we wanted to retain as much of the existing, classic imagery around the restaurant as we could. After assembling photos of the signage, illustrations from previous menu and t-shirt designs, and a series of interviews with Jake, we were able to assemble an updated iteration of the brand that Moody’s already had well established. The result is a website interface design that draws from the rich history of the establishment without leaving it in the past.
FORT WELLINGTON SOUNDSYSTEM - Poster Designs - FWS was founded in early 2011 as a group of DJs, producers and musicians who share a passion for soul, funk, psychedelia, and roots music of all shapes and kinds. From a design perspective, the promotional work for this venture has been largely personal, and as such has evolved into a visual narrative reflecting the listeners journey through time-period and genre, drawing from each stop and then moving on to the next, often utilizing found imagery or direct reference to an era or style.
IMMEDIATE SOUND SERIES - Identity + Poster/Promotional Designs - The Immediate Sound Series is every Wednesday night at the Hideout, and is curated by Mitch Cocanig of Umbrella Music, a Chicago-based collective dedicated to presenting jazz and improvised music. Since its inception the group has pooled resources in order to reach a larger audience, provide consistent performance situations and promote Chicago as an international hub for cutting-edge improvised music. These efforts culminate in over 170 concerts per year and an annual international festival.
MIXTAPES + ERRATA - Album and Mixtape Artwork - Recent covers from mixed compilations, remixes and original music/production.
