Crossword Helper
Branding, Graphic Design & Illustration
Illustrator, Photoshop
2023
Created brand-defining illustrations and visual compositions for the homepage and error pages of Crossword Helper. These assets established the foundation for the brand’s graphic language, serving as a visual reference for future blog infographics and content.
References
Visual research focused on old newspapers, examining their key graphic elements, illustrations, and photographic styles. Additional references included crossword grid patterns and the optical effects they create, as well as Op Art influences that echo their visual rhythm.
Initial Design Concepts
The first design explorations followed three visual directions:
Reviving the gothic lettering and graphic language of old newspapers, including typographic cues like the double lines beneath headlines.
2. Creating a hand-drawn illustration that visually referenced crossword grids and evoked a screen-printed, crafted feel.
3. Developing a classic black-and-white ink-style illustration with pops of color to bring a contemporary twist.
First Drafts
Building on the initial directions, the double-line motif was used to introduce the title of each illustration. Various approaches were tested to integrate a checkerboard pattern referencing crossword grids, applied within a hand-drawn, textured style to keep the visual language warm and tactile. A touch of the brand’s color was introduced to connect the composition to the overall identity.
Image Progression
A freehand grid was used as a background element, with selected areas filled in a checkerboard style to maintain visual balance. Key elements –such as the map, the pipe smoke, and the monocle– were left on a white background without grid, allowing them to stand out. Each was paired with a subtle accent in one of the brand’s colors to reinforce hierarchy and focus.
Final Images - Homepage sections
In the final images, the color accents were made more prominent by directly coloring a section of the map, the pipe smoke, and the monocle, this time allowing the grid to sit on top, evoking the layered feel of ink-based printing. The grid was also further textured and partially erased to soften the composition and enhance the analog, handmade quality of the illustration.
