Illustration – isabel k. hughes design https://isabelkhughes.com digital designer and illustrator Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:09:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 232255191 “Spring Warblers” Utility Box Mural https://isabelkhughes.com/spring-warblers-utility-box-mural Tue, 30 Sep 2025 20:17:35 +0000 https://isabelkhughes.com/?p=227025

ILLUSTRATION, MURAL DESIGN

"Spring Warblers" Utility Box Mural

In August 2025, I was selected by the Mississauga Arts Council to paint a Bell utility box in the Lorne Park neighbourhood of Mississauga. 

“Spring Migrants” celebrates the beautiful, vibrantly coloured migratory birds that pass through Mississauga during the change of the seasons. From the bright red Northern Cardinal, which holds many spiritual meanings, to the much more elusive Blackburnian Warbler, the diversity of the featured birds acts as a representation of the diversity of Mississauga. The simple, leaf-themed backdrop, represents growth and new beginnings, as well as a dedication to preserving wildlife and green spaces in our quickly growing city. The simple style of the piece makes the vibrant colours the star of the artwork itself.

Client

Mississauga Arts Council

Murals with MAC

 

Medium

Acrylic Paint on Metal

Scope

Concept Design

Concept Revisions

Mural Painting

Design Process

Initial Concept Submission

Below is the initial design concept I submitted to MAC based on their Request for Proposals, featuring 10 different species of birds that either live in the area or migrate through in the springtime.

Refined Concept

After feedback from MAC regarding adding movement to the piece and having the birds in motion as well as playing with more depth, I submitted the new refined concept below. At this point, there had been a change in location and the new location was to only have three sides of the box painted, so I had to adjust my design accordingly to fit the space. Once I was given the go-ahead, I was able to begin painting.

The Painting Process

As someone who works primarily digitally, the painting process was what frightened and excited me most about this project. After several trips to the art supply store and to Home Depot, and after reaching out to some lovely and talented muralists in the GTA for their best tips and tricks, I began the painting process.

Step 1: Prep, Prime, and Base Coat

Before I could begin painting the box I needed to clean it. As it was in a shady area under a large tree, there were lots of dead leaves and a plethora of ants and spiders that had made their home on/around the box. I used an eco-friendly cleaning spray to clean it with chamois rags and sanded down any rusty areas as best as I could. After that, I put two coats of an anti-rust primer base on. Because the box was dark brown and I was planning on putting a light green colour on, I wanted to ensure that the brown didn’t show through.

The following day, I went back to the site and put the base coat on, a lovely light green colour called Mossy Bench.

The box before any prep work was done.
After I put the first coat of primer paint on.
After the second coat of primer.
The base coat, Mossy Bench

Step 2: Doodle Grid

After the box was painted with the base coat, I went in with chalk markers and started to create a doodle grid. This is one of several ways to transfer a design onto a surface. I had never done it before, and it looked a bit wild until I started painting, but it was very helpful to transfer the design onto the box!

Once the doodle grid was on, I took photos and overlaid my design on them to be able to transfer it properly.

For future reference I would likely just use chalk and not chalk markers as I did have to paint over some of the chalk marker lines with the base colour before I finished the piece.

The main panel of the box with the doodle grid drawn onto it in chalk.
Overlaying the design onto the doodle grid to help map out where each element will sit.
I did the same for both sides of the box.
Again, for the other side.
After drawing the rough areas in with a pink chalk, I began blocking in the larger paint colours.
After drawing the rough areas in with a pink chalk, I began blocking in the larger paint colours.

Step 3: Let's Paint!!

Now for the fun part: actually painting. I mainly used heavy body Golden Artist Acrylics and some leftover Amsterdam acrylic paint I had from a project from my time at Humber. I bought lots of my paint on clearance and mixed it to get all of the colours I needed for the design. The heavy body acrylics were definitely interesting to get used to working with.

Myself in my PPE gear, starting to work on the Baltimore Oriole in the corner of the front panel.
My general work set-up. Folding table and stool were definitely lifesavers.
I tried to stay in the shade as much as possible while painting in the August heat!
One of many progress photos I took on my phone.

The Final Product

After the box design was finished, I went over the entire thing with an anti-graffiti coat that was provided to me by the Arts Council (this is to ensure the mural does not get defaced). Then, it was all done! I had so much fun with this project and it was definitely an incredible learning experience for me. I can’t wait to paint more. 🙂

other projects

]]> 227025 Pneumothorax – Illustration for Interactive Sim https://isabelkhughes.com/pneumothorax-digital-illustrations-for-interactive-sim Wed, 18 Jun 2025 12:56:20 +0000 https://isabelkhughes.com/?p=226563

ILLUSTRATION, INTERACTIVE

Neonatal Pneumothorax - Interactive Simulation

I worked closely with Stitch Media and their team to develop an interactive simulation for medical students to explore and understand how to navigate situations they could come across in their field of practice. I was tasked with creating over 20 full digital illustrations (panels) to be utilized for Stitch’s point-and-click style simulation.

Each panel was vetted by industry experts to ensure total accuracy in the depiction of a neonatal (infant) pneumothorax.

To experience the full simulation, please visit the Simulation Canada Website.

 
Client

Stitch Media

Fleming College

Simulation Canada

Medium

Digital Painting

Interactive

Scope

Character Design

Scene Design & Illustration

Software

Procreate

Adobe Photoshop

Playthrough Demo

Character Designs

Lesley Anne (Mother of Patient)
Chuck (Paramedic)
Dr. Harrison
Kathleen, Indigenous Navigator
Elizabeth (RN)

Panel Illustrations

Each Panel represents an interaction that the player must take to care for the neonatal patient. Some involve identifying the correct equipment, while others involve ruling out other potential diagnoses, all while acting with care toward the patient and her family.

other illustration projects

]]> 226563 Drift Brewing Brand Identity https://isabelkhughes.com/drift-brewing-co Sat, 07 Jun 2025 19:27:37 +0000 https://isabelkhughes.com/?p=226732

BRAND IDENTITY, ILLUSTRATION, PACKAGING DESIGN

Drift Brewing Co. Brand Identity

Created as a part of the Briefbox bootcamp, this brand & packaging identity for a fictional brewery takes its inspiration from SoCal skate culture. Using a mixture of graphic design and illustration, I created a unique and refreshing brand identity for Drift.

As the birthplace, and a bastion of the sport and subculture ever since, California and LA specifically are synonymous with skateboarding. This unique sport has its own fashion, style, and aesthetic, with ties to the punk and DIY communities. The skate community is welcoming to all, and skaters of all levels are known for their perseverance to try over and over again to land a single complicated trick.

Like brewing that perfect sip, skateboarding takes craft, dedication, and skill.

Client

Self-directed, Briefbox

Scope

Brand Development

Logo Design

Overall Brand Identity

Packaging & Merchandise Design

Brand Identity

By adjusting the font Chennai, I created the Drift wordmark, choosing to keep it lowercase and laidback. With some further stylizing, the wordmark emulates the iconic skate brands of the SoCal area.

I also replaced the tiddle of the i with a moon, harkening back to the name of the brand itself, as the moon controls the tides, which might cause you to drift away.

Label Designs

As I was provided the names of the individual brews as well as some details of the brew itself, I wanted to challenge myself to create illustrations with a minimal palette, incorporating only the established brand colours. Primarily drawn in Procreate, I added the finishing touches to the illustrations and labels in Photoshop to add some depth and texture to them.

I kept the back labels simple, to give the illustrations space to shine as the stars of the show.

I also designed some simple coasters to go alongside the beer bottles, likely as a freebie.

other projects

]]> 226732 “Have You Eaten Yet?”, An Interactive Educational Application https://isabelkhughes.com/have-you-eaten-yet-an-interactive-educational-application Sun, 18 Aug 2024 17:43:31 +0000 https://isabelkhughes.com/?p=225027

ILLUSTRATION, UI DESIGN, USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN

"Have You Eaten Yet?", an Interactive Experience

“Have You Eaten Yet?” is an interactive, iPad-based application, designed as a part of the award-winning “A Seat at the Table” exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver.

Focusing in on the unique dialects of the Chinese diaspora in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, “Have You Eaten Yet?” showcases 32 different dialects alongside famous regional dishes. Its easy-to-navigate UI makes it enjoyable for museum-goers of all ages.

 
Client

Museum of Vancouver

Centre for Digital Media

Medium

iPad-based application, built in Unity

Adobe CC used for asset creation

Scope

User Research and Testing

Audio Mastering

UI/UX Design

Dish Illustration

Copywriting and Translation

Unity Programming

Team

Lam Kwan – UI Design, Illustration
Isabel Hughes – UI Design, Illustration
Irene Sasaki – UI/UX, Illustration
Vikrant Rajan – Unity Programming
Eugene Chau – Sound Design, UX
Jaclynn Wong – Project Management
Jian Shi – Illustration
Hammer & Tong – Final Development

Application Interface

Main Menu / Idle Screen
Main Menu / Idle Screen
Mockup of Map Screen of application on iPad
Navigable Map
Region Overlay
Region Overlay

Dish Illustrations

Working alongside the other designers and illustrators on the team, we created a cohesive style for all of the dish illustrations. Below are the various dishes I illustrated.

A Seat At The Table Exhibit

In 2022, I was back in Vancouver visiting friends, and was able to see the A Seat at the Table Exhibit in person at the Museum of Vancouver, including the final version of our application. Below are some photos I took while visiting the museum.

other design projects

]]> 225027 Resolute, 2095 – a cyberpunk-inspired future https://isabelkhughes.com/resolute-2095 Sat, 17 Aug 2024 20:56:36 +0000 https://isabelkhughes.com/?p=224997

ILLUSTRATION, VISUAL NARRATIVE

Resolute, 2095 - A cybernetic-inspired future

Originally created during my master’s degree, “Resolute, 2095” explores a wintry, wind-swept future set in the Polar North. Inspired by solarpunk and cyberpunk aesthetics, as well as a reckoning with what harsh changes in climate could look like in the Arctic Circle, “Resolute, 2095” explores a vivid near-future fictional setting of a sprawling city in Canada’s far north.

Client

Centre for Digital Media
Self-Directed

Medium

Digital Painting

Digital Collage

Software

Adobe Photoshop

The Chief's Office
Resolute Skyline
Nanuq, The Port Bar
A Nighttime Sail
The University of Resolute
Jeep In Snow
The Seaport

other illustration projects

]]> 224997 Retro Toronto Illustration Series https://isabelkhughes.com/retro-toronto-series-illustration Fri, 12 Jul 2024 14:35:34 +0000 https://isabelkhughes.com/?p=224805

ILLUSTRATION, SELF-DIRECTED

Retro Toronto Illustration Series

An ongoing series of retro-inspired illustrations of various locations in Toronto, primarily based off of old photographs and postcards. Influence heavily drawn from retro-style comics.

Client

Self-directed

Medium
Digital
Software

Procreate

Adobe Photoshop

"Queen and Parliament Street"
Queen and Parliament Street, based on a postcard from the mid 1960s. Created in Procreate and Adobe Photoshop, 2023.
"The Zipper"
Inspired by the famous ride at the CNE. Created in Procreate and Adobe Photoshop, 2024.
"Maple Leaf Gardens"
An homage to the former home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Created in Procreate and Adobe Photoshop, 2023.
"Sam the Record Man"
Inspired by Albert Kish's photo of the original store on Yonge St. Created in Procreate and Adobe Photoshop, 2023.
All of these illustrations are available as prints in my shop under Retro Toronto Series.

other illustration projects

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