Mama Monkey’s is a sauce brand that blends Cantonese cuisine with American kitchens.

PROJECT BRIEF

Design a label for a food or beverage with a non paper-based container that communicates your identity and/or serves a community that you identify with. The goals of this project are to attract potential customers, explore ways to resonate with the consumers, and to provide enjoyable interactions.

Concept

This Cantonese ketchup brand traces the sauce back to Southern China, where it began as a fermented fish paste called ke-tsiap before Western traders transformed it into the tomato condiment we know today. It honors my mom’s Cantonese culture while nodding to the iconic Hein(t)z ketchup. The brand name reflects my birth year as well as the monkey’s wit and playfulness, qualities that resonate with my identity.

Process

IDEATION

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

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.

Location Specific

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

STRATEGIES

I chose to implement three different creative strategies for this project.

Textured Paper

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

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
Sketches of various packaging and label designs for Mama Monkey's Cantonese ketchup, including different logo styles, ingredient lists, and product descriptions in black and white. 
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.

Final Outcome

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.

Red is a lucky color in Chinese culture, symbolizing 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. Black was selected for the monkey to establish a strong focal point. For the type, I selected these serif typefaces to convey establishment. I incorporated glyphs that echo the monkeys' movement and create balance between the illustration and logotype.

Color study chart with four color swatches labeled Lucky Red, Black, Rice Milk, and Toasted Cream, each with CMYK color breakdowns. Includes font study with primary font Matrix II OT in various weights and secondary font Bookmania with sample text.

DISCIPLINES

Illustration
Storytelling
Packaging Design

TIMELINE

Winter 2026
7 weeks

TEAM

Solo Project

ROLE

Graphic Designer
Illustrator

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.
Sortr

For next time…

Because of Winn-dixie 
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.

BACK TO TOP