As with any project, the first step is to research. I began researching the Napa Valley and San Francisco areas to see what inspiration I could find. I also researched Ghirardelli to develop a better understanding of the client and who they are as a company. This further helped elaborate upon the story my work needed to convey. The images below are visual pieces of inspiration that provided direction for my final concept renderings.
The images above are from https://www.ghirardelli.com/ and https://unsplash.com/.
The team was a bit unsure as to which direction to begin. Therefore, I presented them with three sketches that suggested a few directions we could go. The first direction follows the history of Ghirardelli, starting in the San Francisco area. The second sketch highlights elements of the Napa Valley area, where the wine would partner nicely with the chocolate. The final idea focuses on the chocolate itself. This includes the swirls from when it is melted, to the shiny, foil wrappers the sweet treats are found in.
San Francisco Direction
Napa Valley Direction
Chocolate Production Direction
After being presented with all three ideas, the team asked me to try to combine the three directions into one cohesive piece. The in-progress renderings below showcase various color studies and material studies within the space. This includes areas like the airstream and the back wall.
After a few revisions the team wanted to see, I completed the final rendering for the Ghirardelli sampling activation space. The team also decided that since they enjoyed my work so much, they wanted me to do an additional rendering showing the sampling activation in Ghirardelli Square. The final renderings are seen below.
Ghirardelli Activation Space
Activation Space in Ghirardelli Square