Dandelion Chocolate

ADVENT CALENDAR

Illustration, Lettering, Branding


Hand illustrated line drawing of local flora and fauna and architecture in San Francisco, created as package design for an advent calendar.


Dandelion Chocolate is a San Francisco based small batch chocolatier. Each year they create an advent calendar that showcases their own chocolate masterpieces alongside other local confectioners, all of whom use Dandelion Chocolate cacao in their work.


For their 2018 collection, they wanted to go bigger than ever before, creating an intricate hand illustrated package for the largest production run in their history.

"This calendar is a true collaboration; with 13 California based confectioners, lettering by Lisa Quine and all illustrated artwork by Maggie Enterrios. This calendar is a true work of art. " - Dandelion Chocolate

25 individually illustrated packages with botanical elements and animals. The packages are a rich green and the dates are hi-lighted with a gold foil finish, providing a luxurious feel.
Art director holding Chocolate packaging with a delicate illustration of a field mouse and local floral elements. Deep green colored box with gold foil detail.

The calendar was featured by Martha Stewart, Refinery29 and several online food + beverage publications.

See below for process shots and final artwork:

Luxury packaging with hand illustrated patterns, floral details and gold foil.

THE ARTWORK

Each of the interior matchbook boxes featured an illustrated native Bay Area plant or animal and was printed with meticulously applied copper foil. The underside of each box includes facts about the flora and fauna it features.

A lot of plant and animal research was required to bring this project to life. I began by cross-referencing California native species lists and worked alongside Dandelion Chocolate to source reference imagery and information.

Digital Illustration of all chocolate boxes

Digital Illustration of all chocolate boxes

Final printed, foiled chocolate matchbook boxes

Final printed, foiled chocolate matchbook boxes

Very early illustration comps, lettering designed by Lisa Quine

Very early illustration comps, lettering designed by Lisa Quine

Dandelion Chocolate had a lot riding on their 2018 calendar launch. With production and sales goals larger than any advent calendar in their history, they turned to Littlepatterns to create packaging special enough to support their plan.

Thank you to all of the collaborators for this project:

Dandelion Chocolate, Lisa Quine, Cadence Chocolates, CocoTutti, Feve Artisan Chocolatier, Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates, Jade Chocolates, Le Dix-Sept, Michael’s Chocolates, Mojo Bakes! SF, NeoCocoa, Salty Sweet, Socola Chocolatier, tinyB Chocolate


San Francisco area botanicals, animals and architecture, on hand illustrated product packaging created with luxurious printing techniques.

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