Illustrated Olive Oil & Fig Vinegar Labels — Les Costes, Southern France

The commission

Artisan products with a distinctive illustrated character

In 2017, I designed two illustrated product labels for a small-batch producer of artisan olive oil and fig vinegar in southern France. The objective was to create packaging with an unmistakable artistic character: sophisticated enough to reflect the quality of the products, but colorful, expressive, and playful enough to stand apart from the more traditional visual conventions of gourmet food packaging.

01 · Illustration approach

Contemporary Vector Illustration for Artisan Food Packaging

Rather than following the familiar Mediterranean vocabulary of rustic landscapes, photographic ingredients, and restrained typography, I developed a distinctive contemporary illustration style built around bold vector graphics, stylized botanical forms, and decorative detailing. Olives, leaves, and figs became the starting points for elaborate compositions of swirling contours, organic shapes, ornamental flourishes, and vivid color contrasts.

The illustrations were deliberately lively, with elements of whimsy and a slightly unconventional graphic sensibility. I wanted the artwork to be immediately recognizable as the work of an illustrator, rather than another exercise in conventional product branding. The dark backgrounds provided a visual anchor for the bright colors, while the combination of classical typography and expressive hand-drawn-style lettering introduced an interesting contrast between elegance and exuberance.

02 · Packaging in use

Designed to Stand Out, from the Shelf to the Table

An important consideration was how the bottles would appear in their surroundings. The labels needed sufficient visual presence to distinguish themselves on a crowded retail shelf, but also to look attractive on a restaurant table, in a wine bar, or as part of a Mediterranean dining setting. The intention was to create something people might notice, examine, and enjoy beyond the simple act of identifying the product.

Although each label features its own illustrations and color palette, both belong to the same visual family. Their shared typography, decorative vocabulary, and overall composition establish a coherent identity while allowing the individual products to retain their character.