Ben & Jerry's: Design Period Study

The Brief

An ART130 assignment exploring how a single brand can be reimagined across distinct design periods. Each poster translates Ben & Jerry's identity into a different visual language: modern minimalism strips everything back to sharp edges, a restrained palette, and a single yellow accent; retro leans into distressed textures, vibrant stripes, and rounded type; Victorian embraces symmetry, elaborate serifs, and ornate flourishes. The exercise reveals how much of a brand's personality lives in its typography and ornamentation rather than its logo alone.

Process

1. 01Researched each design period's defining characteristics — from minimalism's restraint to Victorian ornamentation.
2. 02Sketched compositions that keep Ben & Jerry's recognizable while adopting each period's visual vocabulary.
3. 03Refined each poster by hand, drawing flourishes and textures to capture the period's material quality.