Branding for Cannabis has slowly evolved over the years, from psychedelic colors and wild fonts, to now more refined and professional. I challenged myself to create some sophisticated packaging for a Cannabis brand in a city that has a rich history and the epicenter of sophistication, New York City.
**Brand Identity:**
Empire Haze embodies the ambition, energy, and individuality of New York City. The bold logo and tagline focus on empowerment, while the color palette and typography reflect both sophistication and the urban landscape. This brand is deeply connected to the local NYC vibe and possesses the potential for national appeal through its premium positioning.
**Mylar Bag Design:**
The custom bag shape and design evoke NYC’s iconic skyline, allowing the product to stand out in a crowded marketplace. A vibrant color palette and modern fonts make the packaging eye-catching and functional. The inclusion of imagery depicting local landmarks ties the product to its origin, while the sleek design maintains a sense of luxury and exclusivity.
With a clear direction, the project was beginning to fall into place, and after some building in Adobe Illustrator...

I had the label I was going to use!

Why stop now? I built a traditional Mylar bag in Blender and wrapped the label to it so I could get a professional-looking product shot.




Finally, I put everything together in a brand guide.

I'm not a big fan of cannabis, it's not something I'm very comfortable with. However, working in design has taught me that sometimes you have to design things you're not too keen on. This challenge pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me think differently about my usual approach. I believe that by doing this, I've developed as a designer and gained insight into an industry that has always been unfamiliar to me!