Digital Image Editing - Holiday Ads

Every year, the holiday season brings out the best of our cozy rituals: chilly mornings under warm blankets, sitting by the fire, and drinking something warm. I wanted to capture the nostalgic feeling of waking up on Christmas morning, and the first memory that came to mind wasn't the gifts...it was my mom, sitting with her cup of coffee while my sister and I ransacked the living room. My mom really went above and beyond for us, even when it was hard for her. This is an homage to all the parents who sit with their coffees on holiday mornings, just watching the happy chaos unfold and enjoying their time with their families. 

The full-page ad was the first one I completed. I made up a company name that would reflect the holidays and centered my ads towards a holiday blend that the coffee companies usually release around this time. This was the first time I used Brusheezy for brushes, and the site made it so easy to find and download some smoke/steam brushes, "magic"-themed brushes, and footprints, which I used to make it look like a mischievous elf had just come from the cookie plate to sprinkle some magic into the coffee. Star anise and cinnamon are common holiday flavors, and I knew I wanted to incorporate some of the flavors that would be in the coffee into the image somewhere, without making them too overwhelming. The website name is placed near the bottom, isolated just enough to be noticed without interrupting the visual flow. After absorbing the warmth, flavor profile, and holiday atmosphere, the call to look up the brand feels natural.

Overall, every element in the design works together to create a narrative: slow down, get cozy, and make this season feel special with a cup of something warm. By aligning visuals, mood, and flavor cues, the ad gently motivates viewers to explore the limited-edition roast, because in that moment, it genuinely feels like the perfect fit for the holiday experience they want to create.

For the Instagram ad, I really wanted to bring the viewer into the scene. A cozy holiday morning, wrapped gifts, and elements of warmth (the blanket, her warm socks, an oversized sweater). I asked ChatGPT to create a simple logo with a transparent background so I could put it on the mug. The challenge I faced with this particular piece was creating a scene within the photo, while also remembering how small Instagram post photos really are. I had 4 others completed before I scrapped them all and decided on this route. The others were full living room scenes that would have been better suited for a larger ad. A lifestyle ad brings in an increased emotional connection and relatability. The gift boxes hint at holiday shopping, subtly suggesting coffee as a giftable experience. I didn't include the website in this image because it should be inferred that it's posted on the company's Instagram account, which usually has a direct link posted either in the bio or through a link tree of sorts. The company could also tag a direct link to the product in the image. 

Finally, the half-page ad. Surprisingly, I had the most difficulty with this sizing. I still wanted to convey the same overall feelings as the other ads, but I didn't want it to seem cluttered or repetitive. I decided to contrast the cold outside with the feeling of being inside and warm with a warm cup of coffee. I love watching snow fall (I'm from New York, so snow was inevitable growing up), and I couldn't think of a cozier feeling than sitting inside, wrapped up in a blanket, watching the snow. I used coffee beans shaped like snowflakes, but changed their layers to "inclusion" to make it seem like they had been drawn into the frost on the window. I also changed the top of the coffee, which allowed me to play with the perspective warp tool for the first time. The idea is to make the viewer think, "I want to experience this moment. I want this feeling."  

I learned a lot while completing this assignment, such as working within the space allowed, conveying emotions, connecting with the pieces, and surrendering concepts (no matter how attached to them I might be). I learned how to use the perspective warp tool (though I could definitely do with some more practice), how to search, download, and use brushes effectively. I continue to learn how to use the harmonize tool, and I'm getting familiar with Gaussian blur to make pieces seem uncomfortably sharp.