Cronozee (E-Commerce Kimono Website)
A New York-based e-commerce store that sells kimonos specially designed by local artists. Each print draws inspiration from coral reefs around the world. Not only is the fabric material sustainable, it’s also made without colorants, pollutants or chemicals.
Writer: Brazos Elkins
Designer: Jason Ortiz
Art Direction
I wanted to create a site experience that made users feel like they were taking part in each artist’s creative process and scrolling through their swatch books. With each purchase, the consumer would feel like they were not only saving the coral reef but supporting a local artist.
Shopify Template
It is important to mention that the limitations of this project included a preexisting logo, limited photography––all of which had to live within a Shopify template. The website’s swatch-like elements would live within a transparent square container to allow for easy swapping out of product lines without the need of a developer.
Illustrating Assets
In exploring the concept of adding color back into the oceans I illustrated a set of underwater pants using a offset printing style
About Page Version 1
During initial development, there were various rounds of creative review for the website. The version of the About Page you see here was designed with the idea of creating a visual system of patterns that reflected the unique print designs and cohesively merged them together.
Made In NYC
Using transitional frame animation techniques I animated each icon to expand on the idea of flow and underwater motion. Developing the story of the copy further, into a more engaging visual. Reversible Kimonos inspire reversible icons.
Natures Dye
Zero pollutant dye that going back into the oceans.
Tencil Fabric
This icon was inspired by the idea of creating sustainable materials that coexist with ocean life. The patterns on each icon reference the pattern s found among the coral reef.
About Page Final
During this approach, I had the idea of creating an icon system that visually represented the action of adding color by into the bleached and dying coral reefs. Each of the three main defining features of the product would be represented as both an object and a living sea creature.
Story Page
Explaining the core brand components through coral reef inspired icons.