BRAND & UX CASE STUDY

Maison Verlain

Brand Design • UX Storytelling • Visual Identity

A premium French macaron bakery brand built on elegance, craftsmanship, and heritage. I created a timeless identity system and character-led storytelling that communicate refinement, trust, and artisanal quality.

Maison Verlain bakery website featuring refined product photography, elegant typography, and a luxury pâtisserie aesthetic.

Role

Brand Designer 
UX Storyteller

Duration

4 weeks

Tools

Figma
Illustrator
Photoshop

Deliverables

Brand Identity
Illustration 
Storefront Design
Brand Guidelines

Overview

Sprinkles Bakery is an e-commerce concept designed for customers who want the comfort of homemade baked goods with the convenience of online ordering and local delivery.

Problem

Local bakeries often compete with large delivery platforms, but their websites may lack the clarity, trust signals, and streamlined ordering flow customers expect from modern e-commerce experiences.

Outcome

A warm, easy-to-use bakery ordering prototype that supports product discovery, delivery clarity, and a smoother checkout experience.

Process & Methodology

Problem Statement

Define brand goals, audience expectations, and key differentiators in the luxury dessert market.

Early Exploration

Explored visual directions, typography, color palettes, and character concepts to find the right tone.

Iteration Strategy

Refined the logo, illustration style, and narrative to balance elegance, warmth, and approachability.

Final Brand Character

Élodie Verlaine becomes the face of the brand — elegant, skilled, and deeply connected to her craft.

Key Design Insights

Visual Restraint

A muted palette, refined typography, and airy layouts create a premium, timeless brand presence.

Premium Storytelling

Élodie Verlaine’s story adds human warmth and depth, transforming the brand into a memorable experience.

Trust Anchor

Craftsmanship, quality ingredients, and transparent storytelling reinforce credibility and trust.

Heritage Marker

French influences and heritage cues ground the brand in authenticity and cultural elegance.

Recommendations

Simplify illustration tone for scalability across digital, packaging, and print applications.

Maintain editorial restraint to protect brand luxury, clarity, and visual consistency.

Expand brand applications across packaging, digital, social, and in-store customer experiences.

Reflection

This project was a study in restraint and storytelling. The balance between elegance and warmth, tradition and modernity, was key to building a brand that feels both aspirational and approachable.

Every visual decision needed to feel intentional. The typography, color palette, illustration style, and spacing all worked together to create a calm luxury experience without making the brand feel cold or distant.

Élodie Verlaine

The heart of the brand. A passionate artisan whose dedication to craft and quality shines through every detail.

Illustration of Élodie Verlaine, the Maison Verlain artisan baker, holding a tray of pastries.

Her character gives the bakery a human voice, helping customers connect with the story behind the product. Élodie represents heritage, care, and the quiet confidence of a refined French patisserie.

Storefront Result

Physical presence that brings the brand to life and builds local trust and connection.

Maison Verlain storefront featuring dark green and gold branding with an elegant French pâtisserie entrance.

The storefront extends the identity beyond packaging and digital touchpoints. It creates a recognizable, premium environment where customers can experience the brand’s elegance, warmth, and craftsmanship in person.