Post 13: Aesthetics of Design Portfolio

Project 1: Chocolate Packaging – Finca Don Jorge
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My main project centered around designing chocolate packaging for Finca Don Jorge, a vertically integrated cacao plantation in Chiapas, Mexico. Inspired by my internship at the finca, where I witnessed the full cacao-to-chocolate process, I aimed to create packaging that honored the story of chocolate as a product of land, labor, and cultural heritage—not just indulgence.

Originally envisioned as a handcrafted wooden box with a sliding mechanism, the packaging was meant to mimic the act of opening a cacao pod. However, after relocating to Mexico City mid-semester, I pivoted to a more feasible but equally meaningful solution: a luxury paper-based wrapper.

This version features topographic maps of the finca, a story about the Forcipomyia midge (cacao’s main pollinator), and a clean, minimal layout that reflects modern Mexican aesthetics. The design balances storytelling and sustainability, elegance and ecological intent. It avoids clichéd Mesoamerican motifs and instead celebrates mestizaje, the blended heritage that defines modern Mexico.

What began as a woodworking challenge evolved into a graphic design experience rooted in precision and narrative. I’m proud of how this project stayed true to its vision while adapting to real-world constraints.

Project 2: From Snowboard to Coat Rack – Ski Town Aesthetic
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For the Upcycle project, I revisited the first time I was struck by mountain-town aesthetics—visiting a ski village in 2013. I was captivated by the way vintage skis, stone, and timber were used not just for function, but for atmosphere. That memory sparked the idea to create a functional piece of wall art that carried the same spirit.

My initial idea was to build a table using old skis and snowboards, but sourcing that much gear proved challenging. After some trial and error, I found a damaged LIB Tech Orca snowboard in a rental shop, and its beautiful minimalist design changed everything. Cutting it felt sacrilegious. Instead, I turned it into a coat rack that doubled as wall decor.

Using transparent hooks to preserve the design and rusty nails from a nearby construction site, I mounted it with care, honoring both sustainability and aesthetic continuity. Balancing the asymmetrical design of the board proved tricky, but I used digital sketches and proportional spacing to find the right layout.

This piece now hangs in my Boulder apartment. It doesn’t just hold jackets—it holds memory, aesthetic, and meaning. The project showed me that upcycling isn’t just about reuse, but about reinterpretation. I took an object designed for one purpose and gave it a new life while keeping its identity intact. It’s simple, rugged, and reflects exactly what inspired me in the first place.