Illustration and lettering for packaging design by Emi Renzi

Learn to combine lettering and illustration to create packaging that tells a brand’s story, from the first sketch to the final mockup. This course is all about the practical, hands-on process of designing a product’s visual identity.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Create a design brief and mood board for a packaging project.
• Develop hand-drawn lettering and illustration concepts.
• Build a cohesive color palette and refine your design.
• Digitize and finalize your artwork for a professional mockup.

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Basic knowledge of illustration and graphic design.
• Tools: Pencil and paper for sketching; a computer or tablet with Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Procreate.
• Hardware: A computer or tablet capable of running the required software.

📝 Description

This course isn’t about abstract theory. It’s a walkthrough of a real packaging project, from the messy brainstorming phase to the polished final file. Emi Renzi shows you how to research a brand, build a brief, and then let your hand do the talking with hand-drawn lettering and illustration.

You’ll start with pencil and paper, sketching out ideas and building a mood board. Then, you’ll move into the digital world to refine your color palette and composition. The real magic happens when you learn to apply a critical eye to your own work, making tough decisions to push the design further. By the end, you’ll have a complete packaging mockup ready to present.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Designers and illustrators who want to break into packaging design.
• Anyone interested in combining hand-drawn art with digital tools for commercial projects.
• Creatives looking for a structured, project-based approach to building a portfolio piece.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Emi Renzi is an Argentine graphic designer and illustrator specializing in handmade packaging. She has worked with major brands and studios worldwide. Her most notable project was designing the illustration and lettering for the Quilmes beer line for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which won a Cannes Award in 2023. She sees packaging as a piece of art that captures the senses.

🏁 Final Result

• A complete packaging design for a product of your choice, including a final digital mockup ready for presentation.