Austin Wade


    I’m a graphic designer, illustrator, and art dirctor speaking to the design-minded and aesthetic appreciators. My work draws influence from old world design styles and places emphasis on a refined, naturalistic feel. I believe that a focus on natural textures and handcrafted looks creates a connection and draw with the end user that is unrivaled in today’s highly digital landscape.

    In 2010 I got my start designing merchandise and album covers, and worked my way through the ranks to being the art director of a multi-million dollar international corporation. I’ve worked in nearly every industry you can think of and have touched just about every type of design project there is, from designing Instagram ads to directing and treating full 1000sq/ft trade show booths.

    My focus is on intentional branding, packaging, and telling compelling, thoughtful stories through advertising. 


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    Advanced Nutrients

    As Art Director and design lead for Advanced Nutrients, I worked on an extensive range of projects. Print and digital advertising, packaging, brand guidelines, trade show booth design, multiple extended catalogs, event and activation graphics, in-store signage, and much more. Additionally, I hired and managed a team of both contracted and specialty case freelance designers, and worked closely with (often directing) the company’s digital media team for video and photo needs.

    Responsibilities:

    Design Direction
    Graphic Design
    Brand Strategy
    Hiring & Managing
    Photo Retouching
    Budget Oversight
    Vendor Sourcing & Communications
    Pitch Decks
    Project Oversight
    Cross-Department Communications






    In conjunction with experiential design agency Astound, I led the design, experience flow, and graphic treatment of Advanced Nutrients’s MJBizcon tradeshow booth in 2021. This booth went on to be the general layout still used to this day by the company, and won Best Stand at an Agricultural or Food Event via WESA in 2021.
    This particular rendition of the booth also led to the company’s highest in-event sales figures to date. 



    A large amount of my time with Advanced Nutrients was spent on print advertising, particularly in magazines.




    Iconography


    Using the farmer men found in the 1800’s catalogs, we developed a way to communicate the literal hands-in-the-dirt nature of growing your own cannabis.
    These farmer illustrations show up as much as possible and establish a sort of human connection to the brand and the activity.    Following the same style, we developed a set of flavor note icons. On each seed pack, tucked in the upper corners, are illustrations of the different flavor notes a grower can expect out of their plant when it’s reached harvest and use time.

    Style Guide


      


    Packaging




    BMG’s branding revolves around its color-coded, soft-touch mylar pouch with a light-blocking tube, ensuring seed protection, clear information, and strong shelf presence. Fitting all legal information on the small packs was a major challenge. We solved this by using a strain-specific chart and placing compliance details on the bottom half, while discreetly hiding the barcode on the bottom fold to maintain a clean design.