PORTFOLIO
Hi, I’m Silas! I’m a senior Visual Communication Design student at the University of Kansas. I have a passion for packaging, poster, and publication design. My work is driven by the belief that design carries genuine weight and purpose. I focus on shaping bold, intentional visuals that tell a brand’s story and deliver cohesive, meaningful experiences.
The visual identity leverages the tension between the relentless pace of the "city that never sleeps" and the essential need for self-care. To maintain brand equity, the palette utilizes Sephora’s signature black and white, punctuated by a high-visibility taxi yellow, and a stylized version of the subway map, a nod to the iconic NYC transit system. Designed for the modern professional caught in the metropolitan hustle, FullStop serves as both a physical and metaphorical pause, reminding the audience that everyone deserves a moment to refocus and refine.
Standard Staple Co. elevates a mundane office tool into a symbol of industrial luxury. This project explores the potential of "invisible" objects through a branding system that honors the heritage and utility of the stapler.
The visual identity is anchored in Streamline Moderne aesthetics, utilizing aerodynamic forms and sleek geometry to mirror the stapler’s physical silhouette. Rather than concealing the product, the structural packaging design highlights the object’s form, treating it as a piece of functional art. Targeted at the discerning professional, Standard Staple Co. bridges the gap between everyday office supplies and high-end executive tools, proving that even the most overlooked objects deserve a premium brand experience.
Standard Staple Co. packaging was designed in partnership with Secure Attatchments by Wonderfair.
Standard Staple Co. packaging was designed in partnership with Secure Attatchments by Wonderfair.
The Stars: A New Way to See Them is an editorial redesign of H.A. Rey’s classic 1952 astronomy
text. The design re-architects Rey’s accessible, simplified star charts into a refined, highly structured publication tailored for modern readers.
The visual system leverages a strict, Swiss-inspired baseline grid to bring order and reassuring logic to a complex page environment. Contained within this rigorous framework is a playful graphic layer, pixelated, retro gaming-inspired star motifs reminiscent of 8-bit classics like Space Invaders.
By contrasting these nostalgic arcade visuals with disciplined micro-typography, precise leading, and deliberate horizontal flowlines, the layout bridges
the gap between technical reference manual and elevated visual essay, transforming a dense sky guide into an intuitive, typographically captivating editorial experience.
text. The design re-architects Rey’s accessible, simplified star charts into a refined, highly structured publication tailored for modern readers.
The visual system leverages a strict, Swiss-inspired baseline grid to bring order and reassuring logic to a complex page environment. Contained within this rigorous framework is a playful graphic layer, pixelated, retro gaming-inspired star motifs reminiscent of 8-bit classics like Space Invaders.
By contrasting these nostalgic arcade visuals with disciplined micro-typography, precise leading, and deliberate horizontal flowlines, the layout bridges
the gap between technical reference manual and elevated visual essay, transforming a dense sky guide into an intuitive, typographically captivating editorial experience.
Velvet Anchor is a conceptual ice-cream meets drag-bar located in the heart of New Orleans. The visual identity was forged under a specific group
of contradictory adjectives: Fierce, Nautical, and Tacky. The resulting brand is a maximalist celebration of camp culture, blending the grit of a sailor’s haunt with the high-glamour theatricality of the NOLA drag scene.
of contradictory adjectives: Fierce, Nautical, and Tacky. The resulting brand is a maximalist celebration of camp culture, blending the grit of a sailor’s haunt with the high-glamour theatricality of the NOLA drag scene.
The design process prioritized authenticity to the drag medium, utilizing hand-rendered typography and graphics created entirely in lipstick. This analog approach provided a raw, smear-heavy texture that digital filters cannot replicate, perfectly capturing the "tacky" and "fierce" requirements of the prompt. While the project briefly leaned toward an elevated cocktail aesthetic during development, the final identity was intentionally pulled back toward a maximalist, handmade feel. From environmental graphics to interior signage, Velvet Anchor proves that when designed with intent, indulgence is best served with a wink and a heavy dose of attitude.