Mama Monkey’s is a sauce brand that blends Cantonese cuisine with American kitchens. This Cantonese Ketchup is a riff on the classic American condiment.

DISCIPLINES

Illustration
Storytelling
Packaging Design

TIMELINE

Winter 2026
7 weeks

TEAM

Solo Project

ROLE

Graphic Designer
Illustrator

PROJECT BRIEF

Design a label for a food or beverage with a non paper-based container that communicates your identity or serves a community you identify with. Attract potential customers, explore ways to resonate with the consumers, and provide enjoyable interactions.

A bottle of Mama Monkey hot sauce with a beige label featuring a drawing of a monkey and red text, indicating it is made in Hong Kong, China. 
CONCEPT

This brand traces ketchup back to Southern China, where it began as a fermented fish paste called ke-tsiap. Western traders discovered and then transformed it into the tomato condiment we know today. This homemade twist on a classic sauce honors my mom’s Cantonese culture while nodding to the iconic Heinz ketchup. The brand name reflects my birth year as well as the monkey’s wit and playfulness.

Process

Gathered inspiration and visual references for illustration styles, cultural patterns and motifs, color palettes, bottle shapes, and type implementation.

IDEATION
A collage of Asian-inspired and vintage food packaging, labels, and artwork. Includes traditional and modern designs, with items like sake bottles, soy sauce, and ketchup, as well as decorative boxes, tins, and packaging with Asian motifs. 
STRATEGIES

Textured Paper

Use cream linen stock for dimensionality and to create a tactile experience for the consumer.

Location Specific

Lean into recognizable cultural motifs to convey the heritage component that is defining to this project.

Mascot

Create a single-color mascot to show the personality of the brand and an image that they can easily recognize and connect to.

COLOR & TYPE
TAKEAWAYS

Red symbolizes prosperity and good fortune. I chose it not only for its cultural resonance, but also to complement the natural color of the product. The cream linen paper gives a tactile warmth that contrasts with the richness of the red.

For the type, I selected serif typefaces to convey establishment. The incorporation of glyphs mimicked the monkeys' movement and created balance between the illustration and logotype.

COLOR & TYPE
SKETCHES
A collection of sketches of bottle labels and bottle designs featuring the brand name 'Mama Monkey's.' The designs include handwritten and illustrated elements, with some labels showing cartoon monkeys, tomatoes, and a person running, incorporating text in both English and Chinese characters.
A bottle of Mama Monkey Cantonese ketchup standing next to three fresh tomatoes with water droplets on their surface.
A hand holding a Molson Canadian beer bottle at an angle with some beer spilling out.
A bottle of Mama Monkey's Cantonese Ketchup with a white cap, standing upright on a white surface against a plain background.
Bottle of ketchup with a white cap on a plain light background.
A bottle of Asian sauce with a red label featuring text about Cantonese cuisine, nutrition facts, and ingredients.
A glass bottle of ketchup with a white cap placed on a plain white surface against a light gray background.

For next time…

TAKEAWAYS

I loved getting the opportunity to showcase my culture and background through this project. One of the main challenges was this Chinese pagoda label shape, especially adhering it to the bottle, but it also turned out to be a fun constraint to work with. I would love to create many more bottle labels this summer when I have a bit of spare time.

SORTR
BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE
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