the greedy foodmonster

"The Greedy Food Monster" is a 2015 illustration project that turned a standard dinner voucher into a narrative-driven keepsake. Instead of handing over a generic card, the goal was to craft a distinctive character that conveyed humour, appreciation, and a considered design approach. The three-eyed beetle with its glowing cutlery eyes sets the tone: the front invites discovery, while the reverse side offers room for a handwritten message.

Context & Objective

• Brief: Create a character-led voucher for a 60-euro dinner, including copy and final layout.
• Objective: Communicate recognition, sharpen my Illustrator skills, and establish a unique visual language.
• Setting: Final phase of my post-production apprenticeship; close collaboration with designers, art directors, and creative producers.

Design & Process

• Initial sketches defined proportions, silhouette, and expression of the beetle creature.
• In Adobe Illustrator I built the fur texture, shape language, and lettering using vector brushes, masks, and transparency techniques.
• Adobe Photoshop handled the finishing touches: subtle textures, light gradients, and the final print proof to ensure a premium feel.

Outcome & Learnings

• Produced a small batch for internal gifting—accompanied by enthusiastic feedback on the distinctive look and feel.
• Served as a proof-of-concept for combining illustration and packaging to deliver storytelling without relying on off-the-shelf templates.
• Strengthened my routines in character design, print typography, and production coordination.

Scope: Concept development, illustration, copywriting, layout, and print preparation for a custom voucher card.

Tools & Workflow:

• Adobe Illustrator – Character development, fur rendering, lettering, final layout
• Adobe Photoshop – Texture, lighting, and print-proof finishing

Capabilities:

• Character Design & Illustration
• Typography & Lettering for print
• Texture, shading & digital painting
• Print preparation & production alignment