"Farm My Yard" Urban Agriculture Identity

• Client: Farm My Yard

• Location: Portland, OR

• Roles: Illustration, Graphic Design, Production Consultant

• Scope: Brand Identity, Apparel Design, Sustainable Production Strategy

• Mediums: Analog Pen & Ink, Digital Color & Typography, Screen Printing

Creative Lead

For this localized urban farming initiative in Portland, OR, I served as the primary visual architect tasked with translating a "grassroots" philosophy into a professional retail identity. My role was to create a high-impact brand mark that could scale across diverse physical mediums while maintaining an "artisan-crafted" soul. I managed the transition from a hand-drawn narrative concept—integrating urban icons like city skylines and streetlights with organic farm imagery—into a production-ready design for apparel.

Vision

The goal was to visualize the organized organic movement within the Portland community. I utilized a surrealist central figure—a bee-like character carrying a residential home, garden rows, and a city skyline on its back—to represent the symbiotic relationship between urban living and local food production. The vision was to honor the physical work of urban farming through a vibrant, high-detail illustration that feels as hand-built as the gardens themselves.

Creative Strategy

I utilized halftone patterns and textured typography to give the "Farm My Yard" text a rugged, physical weight that mirrors the "Midwestern directness" of my personal aesthetic.

By including specific urban elements like the Portland skyline and streetlights alongside organic details like caterpillars and honeycombs, I created a visual shorthand for the brand’s mission of bringing "the farm" into "the yard".

Human Element

This project is rooted in my commitment to hands-on community work. It isn't just a t-shirt; it’s a tool for social engagement that celebrates the physical act of gardening. My "human-centered" approach involves creating designs that foster a physical connection between the wearer and their environment, reflecting the "joy of the craft" that I bring to every project.