GRACE TAWATAO

ABOUT    

        


Hi there, my name is Grace Tawatao. I am a Filipina-American graphic designer based in San Francisco with a distinct interest in brand development.



EXPLORE MY WORK



 SARAP COFFEE

Sarap Coffee is a fictional brand that offers a unique blend of traditional Filipino coffee beans and other locally inspired flavors, delivering an unparalleled coffee experience that celebrates and shares the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines. The brand relies on many traditional Philippine elements such as icons, textile patterns, serene landscapes, and natural materials. 

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 LOLO’S KITCHEN

Food has always been a powerful expression of love in my life. Some of my best memories are built around meals shared with the people I care about. I was lucky to grow up with my grandfather, my Lolo (Philippine translation), who made the best food I’ve ever tasted. His cooking shaped my childhood, and it was a privilege to grow up at his table. In our family, food brought us together every Monday night for family dinner. At the time, it sometimes felt like a routine, but now I see how special it was. Those meals taught me the importance of slowing down, spending time with loved ones, and staying connected. Lolo’s food was always meant to be shared, and that’s what made it so meaningful. I feel incredibly lucky to have grown up with it, and I want to keep that spirit alive by passing it on.

Lolo’s Kitchen is an installation inspired by those family dinners. I invite you to read, reflect, learn, and most importantly, take the recipes from this collection to share with your loved ones, just as Lolo did. 

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 THE SHAPE OF THE BOOK

This publication was designed with the goal of visually telling the story of “The Shape of the Book”. To begin the process, I thoroughly read through the text, ensuring a deep understanding of the content so that the visual elements would both reflect and enhance the narrative. I took photographs of various books and examples of printing methods from different time periods to showcase the vast history of book production. Throughout this project, I aimed to highlight the unique details and styles that make books distinct from one another, from binding and size to hand-painted illustrations. The text and images were carefully arranged to maintain a smooth, engaging pacing throughout, avoiding repetitiveness while ensuring a cohesive and dynamic reading experience.

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ASTONISH ME 

Alexey Brodovitch possessed an exceptionally distinctive and innovative approach during his creative endeavors for Harper's Bazaar and other projects. His primary philosophy centered on the pursuit of originality and the development of unique concepts. In homage to his teachings, this booklet tells his story in a manner that draws inspiration from his artistic style, while also integrating my own artistic interpretation through vibrant color palettes unfamiliar to his original works.

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SUMMER OF LOVE

The Summer of Love Icon Series chronicles the events of the 1967 phenomenon that transpired within San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. Conceived as a unifying force for the propagation of peace and love, the Summer of Love aimed to bring people together. These icons serve as visual representations of various facets of the Summer of Love, employing imagery, color, and stylistic elements. While the event yielded significant positive outcomes, its reality was less idyllic than its initial perception. The visual elements encapsulate the notions of peace and benevolence championed during the event, but the use of color and psychedelic style stands in stark contrast, symbolizing the rampant drug use and tragic loss of life that also characterized that summer.

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FISHERMEN’S TERMINAL


The Fishermen's Terminal Merchandise Concept represents an initiative aimed at fostering a sense of comfort and camaraderie among the commercial fishermen who operate at Seattle's Fishermen's Terminal. The visual elements in this project strive to convey the valor and heroism demanded by the inherently perilous nature of the commercial fishing profession. The artistic inspiration is drawn from the memorial located at Fishermen's Terminal, which solemnly commemorates those fishermen who have tragically lost their lives while on duty.

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ENCORE

Encore is a fictional tea brand tailored specifically for rockstars. This venture focuses on crafting a unified concept for a niche demographic. The tea and associated branding materials seamlessly merge these elements to convey product information while also appealing to the typical rocker consumer.

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GRAPHICS CENTER

The Graphics Center is the University of San Francisco’s student run design firm. We partner with various student organizations and University Departments to provide them with professional design services for whatever their graphic or branding needs be. The following are various design projects I have created by working one-on-one with our student clientele.

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Grace Tawatao Design Portfoliogracestawatao@gmail.com