B*stard's Bistro T-shirt Merchandise Illustration

Bastard’s
Bistro

Rob, the man behind Bastard’s Bistro, sought an enduring partnership with an artist - a creative alliance that would infuse his brand with a consistent, cheeky art style - to begin with a captivating T-shirt design, one that could serve as merchandise and establish the brand’s identity with a bold and edgy sense of humour - a perfect reflection of Bastard Bistro’s brash and naughty aesthetic.

The Proposal

The canvas for this creative joint was a T-shirt, and one proposal was to feature the company name emblazoned on the chest pocket, while reserving the full back for an attention-grabbing illustration. In the early stages of brainstorming, Rob had envisioned an image involving a pig ( the pig’s head being an iconic element already part of the Bastard Bistro’s logo) or a man indulging in a gastronomic feast, comfortably seated in a chair, surrounded by a smorgasbord of devilish delights. This vision sparked our creative collaboration.

I presented two designs - one, as requested: a gorging pig perched on a high backed seat, surrounded by crumbs and half-eaten food. The centrepiece for the second design - A colossal swine head, from his mouth an extended tongue, resembling a conveyor belt, producing a mouthwatering assortment of food to two hungry patrons. The selection of food items mirrored the Bastards’ menu offerings, including burgers, fried chicken as well as a nod to their unique incorporation of alcohol into some recipes.

I also whipped up some alternative character designs, created to form an unholy gang of “Bastards” with the intention that they could be used for other merchandise down the line. These characters would be modelled around different food and drink that the Bastards provide. Personalities with names such as “Mr Ham”, “Gravy Man” & “The Sauce”. Focussing on the project in hand though, I shelved this idea for potential future use - you can see some of the sketches at the bottom of this page.

The Artistic Style

The chosen artistic style was a blend of simplicity and impact. Employing clean line work, I ensured the design was scalable, making it versatile for various future merchandising mediums. Dot shading was strategically applied to convey depth, shape and shadow, infusing the illustration with character without the need for an extensive colour palette. This approach not only added a distinct stylistic appeal but would also prove cost-effective for the printing process. Less colour = less cost.

The Typography

The typography played a pivotal role in capturing the essence of Bastard’s Bistro. For “Bastard’s,” a bold, hand-drawn font stretched the word out, screaming “Troublemakers”, resonating the brand’s audacious identity.
In contrast, “Bistro” was presented in a more accessible font, evoking the timeless charm of classic diners while hinting at the high quality culinary delights awaiting patrons.