The Warmth of a Slice
Taking it slow and letting the design rise.
Lately I’ve been embracing the approach of taking your time. Not just in how I go through a regular day but also in my work. I’ve been getting very comfortable with exploring my ideas, sleeping on them and watching them evolve and take shape.
This brings me to a recent project I worked on - a logo for a local place called Gaby’s Pizza. It’s a fairly small spot on a busy street serving thin sliced styled pizza with a smile.
Starting With a Feeling
When I first met up with Juan (the owner) we spoke about life in general. How he came to open his place, his background and his experiences growing up. We connected right away. I had already known him from stopping by frequently to grab slices for me and my family. It was nice to actually sit down and talk on a more personal level.
Eventually we got to discuss what he had in mind for the logo. Right away I had a good feeling this was going to be a successful collaboration.
The Process
The final logo ended up being a smiling slice of pizza serving as the mascot for his business. When I sketched this out I felt more comfortable breaking it down into parts. I drew an arm here, a leg there, the sneakers etc. It felt good focusing on everything individually knowing I can scan this and rework it in illustrator making refinements as I put it all together.
The color palette was the obvious choice for any pizzeria. We chose red and white as the primary and then dark green, mustard yellow and black to round it all out. These colors would be called upon depending on uses for the marks.
In the end, Juan was extremely excited for the finished logo. It was what he asked for with just the right amount of creative flair from my part.
For You, Too
If you feel like you’ve been in a rush or the time just isn’t enough, let this be a reminder you can take your time. There’s something peaceful in surrendering to a moment or an experience and letting it sort of take you somewhere.
If you’re working on something right now ask yourself: what’s the story this wants to tell? Let that be your guide.
And hey—if you ever find yourself in need of textures, vector elements, or thoughtful design tools to help you save time, I’ve stocked my Gumroad shop with some of my favorites. I use them in my own projects often—they’re perfect for adding a little extra love (and ease) to your next piece.
As a thank-you for reading, you can use the code S7POBT4 for 25% off anything in the shop—just a little something for being part of the Fake PNG. *Valid until April 19th.
Thanks for reading about this window into my life. As always, I’m glad you’re here.
Until next time.