Elizabeth Kruse

I consider illustrations to be more controlled than hand-drawn sketches and therefore, the more refined, graphic illustrations can be found here. 

When I have free time or feel inspired, this is where I put my random sketches. As you can see, I especially enjoy drawing faces and the human form.

I decided to channel my fan appreciation over the show "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" into an illustration project. This spiraled into a pattern making project where I developed secondary graphics to represent events found throughout the series. As for the style, I chose to depict these vulgar characters in a very cute, early animation way to create a humorous juxtaposition.

Creating a beautiful space is a desire for many homeowners and Bloom Designer Pottery hopes to encourage that passion through their artfully designed products. Their expertise comes from combining unique plants with modern planters to become a statement piece in a home. Fashion really does meet function when healthy plants continue to thrive in their new space. With this in mind, I decided to create a brand mark which merged organic and structural forms. I drew my inspiration from a daffodil and incorporated those colors and shapes into the final design. The mark is bright and inspiring to capture the excitement and pride that comes from blooming plants. I also developed a series of icons to be used on merchandise and art directed the photoshoot for updated product imagery.

It is no secret that I am a tad obsessed with sweets, so it was just a matter of time before I did a branding project around this wonderful treat.

I illustrated a gift for my friend who has an interest in submarine history. I used the classic game, "Battleship," as my inspiration for the poster and searched through a used book store to find an appropriate novel to create a corresponding book cover. The color scheme was a nod to 1950s board game packaging and the aerial perspective was chosen to give the impression of overlooking the game.

These posters were created to call attention to specific endangered species.

The first depicts the slow loris which is frequently captured and sold as an exotic pet. Because the slow loris is nocturnal, I wanted to show a whimsical night scene. I incorporated a native flower to enhance the theme of natural beauty while also introducing a vibrant color into the composition. I wanted the overall feeling to represent helplessness moving towards hope with the subject's sad expression paired with an optimistic quote.

The second poster was in honor of "National Pangolin Day" on February 20. This unique animal's population has drastically declined because their scales are thought to have healing properties. Their clever defense is to roll into a perfect ball and I wanted to illustrate those protective scales with simple shapes. I paired the illustration with a bright, geometric patterned background to really emphasize the silhouette.

This Halloween, I was inspired to create the cast of 'Young Frankenstein' as playing cards. I wanted to capture each character's quirky personality through their costume and facial expression. I also chose to pair their image with a famous line to further relate to the film. I used a grayscale color scheme to match the styling choices from the film as well.

This is currently a work in progress. I am creating logo and branded assets for a new app. More to come!

I am jumping back into animation and decided to make this year's valentine in the Fraser Davidson-style.

Each summer, Volume One sponsors an event where artists can showcase their skills for the community. Each artist is given one day (8:00am-5:00pm) to complete their piece for a panel of judges. I was the first place recipient for the Audience Choice Award for the Harry Potter piece. I love the excitement of working in front of an audience and look forward to competing again next summer.

Each logo I have been commissioned to design has different parameters and applications. I always try to address each branding project through a thoughtful and clean interpretation.

Relativity

This illustration was influenced by MC Escher's impossible sketches. I've always appreciated these puzzles and wanted to modify a version to become a visual metaphor for the complexities of relationships. The two figures long to interact with one another, but the viewer knows they will never be able to exist together on the same plane. 

Dieter Rams - 10 Principles of Good Design

This poster involved taking Dieter Rams' famous words and translating them into a simple, iconic poster. 

The task was to select a technology that could be used ten years in the future. After some research, I decided to create my project around aquaponics. The word Aeon was selected for the title because it enveloped the theme of life-cycles and eternity.
 

Aquaponics is a technology that allows for the growth and harvesting of organic food regardless of location. Aquaponics combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a symbiotic relationship where fish produce fertilizer for growing plants while the plants remove toxicity in the water. Aeon specializes in designing tank accessories that combine the aesthetics of a fish tank with the growing capabilities of a garden to become a beautiful display in a home setting.

I wanted the overall look to be refreshing, inviting and fun.

This is a collection of point of purchase displays and mock-up designs for merchandise to be presented in stores. Whether it is a concept, rendering or mock-up, knowing that someone will approach this product adds another interesting layer to the design. The storytelling becomes even more powerful knowing someone can touch and interact with the design during their experience with the product.

With this project, I created a brand identity and corresponding display and packaging materials for the client's new winery. Bright graphics paired with playful sayings encourage a fun afternoon among the tulip fields with a blanket, picnic basket and favorite bottle of wine.

Domtar Paper Company prides itself in providing high-quality paper that enhances a project’s impact through smooth texture and exceptional ink handling abilities. In order to emphasize this brand's dedication to excellence, I chose to develop a narrative revolving around the drive of a dancer as she approaches the final recital by building on the concept that hard work can create beautiful results. The paper sample booklet is designed to engage the viewer through its vibrant imagery and empowering storyline to increase a potential client’s confidence in the product.

University of Chicago - Midway Classic

The athletic department requested a logo for merchandise to accompany their basketball tournament. I pulled inspiration from the Gerald Ratner Athletics Center and Chicago's iconic architecture to create a bold, memorable logo.

North of Kismet

A local band hired me to create a branded identity for their latest album, social media pages and other merchandise. Their music has a very classic sound and the final artwork reflects that retro feel.

SedgeWood - Health & Wellness Campus

The client requested a logo for their new clinic and wanted it to represent them in a fresh, fun and unique way. They chose the name "SedgeWood" for the grassy landscape where the campus was being constructed. My concept was to combine nature and fitness to reflect the campus's sustainable energy choices in the building plan.

UNIDOS - Against Domestic Violence

This project was for a "Design Like Mad" event which is held annually in Madison, Wisconsin. For the event, each team is assigned a nonprofit organization to work with for twelve hours to create their requested design materials. We were paired with Unidos Against Domestic Violence and were asked to create print material used for fairs and presentations. Unidos' mission is to assist and educate Latino families who are in domestic violence situations. We created bilingual brochures, donation slips, business cards and posters. We also rebranded logos, fonts and colors to make all the materials consistent, modern and more iconic. We also created t-shirts and buttons to illustrate the capabilities of the new brand scheme.

Urban Symbiosis - UW Milwaukee Student Group

This logo was developed for a student organization which remodels buildings to make them more sustainable and energy efficient. I wanted to give the wordmark an industrial feel and emphasized the concept of “connection” through the type treatment and by having the colors subtly blended together.