Senorita Margarita Bar - A functional Bar Prop
For a 40th birthday celebration, I was initially commissioned to create an A5 invitation. However, a month later, the project evolved into designing a large-scale functional bar prop resembling a “food van.”
Overview
Client: Thomas Armstong
Scope: Print Design, Digital Illustration
Outcome: Create an illustrated music festival inspired invitation and a full scale “food van” to be built and displayed outside as a prop for the bar.
Critical Issue: The Margarita Van will host the bar and bartenders behind – produce a design that will hide the table, their feet and be tall enough.
Specifications
Size: 5.80m x 2.40m landscape
Imagery: Must include original illustrations. Handwritten lettering. Featuring a Mariachi character and Mr. Armstrong’s Spanish designed house.
Keywords: Mariachi, Spanish, Day of the Dead, Costume party.
development
I began by researching food van measurements but quickly realized that standard dimensions wouldn’t suit the prop’s specific functional purpose. Instead, we developed custom measurements, scaling it up from 4 meters to 5.8 meters in length. During this process, I carefully accounted for practical details like table height, length, and the bartenders’ working height to ensure functionality and comfort.
Final Solution
When I first designed the invitation, I used raster layers, not anticipating the need to scale up the imagery. Fortunately, the bar’s name, Señorita Margarita, allowed me to reimagine the character as a vector illustration. I redrew the design, adding a feminine hairstyle for an extra touch of charm.
To hide the bartenders’ feet and provide storage behind the bar, I took inspiration from food trucks that use “skirts” to conceal wheels. I created a hedge-like element for this purpose, which blended seamlessly with the garden beds at the event location, adding a cohesive and natural flow to the overall design.
This project was an exciting challenge, transforming a simple invitation concept into an immersive and functional centerpiece for the celebration.
Next Case Study
Holi Event Signage
Goal: Diversifying the demographic, maintaining cultural sensitivity.
