Ballast Gear
I collaborate with Ballast Gear, an outdoor lifestyle brand known for its innovative beach pillow with a built-in sand pouch, to develop and refine their visual brand presence across product, packaging, and digital touchpoints.
My work focuses on translating the brand’s coastal, adventure-ready spirit into clear and cohesive design systems—from packaging and merchandise to website and marketing assets—helping ensure the brand feels consistent, recognizable, and aligned with the experience of relaxed, wind-proof beach days.
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Outdoor Equipment / Outdoor Gear –
Beach & Travel Accessories
Consumer Lifestyle Goods
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Brand identity refinement and visual system development
Packaging and product graphics
Merchandise and retail collateral
Website design and digital marketing assets
Art direction and brand storytelling across touchpoints
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2023 — Present
BACKGROUND
Ballast Gear is an outdoor lifestyle brand founded by entrepreneur Brian Kirk after he noticed a simple problem during beach trips: there was no pillow designed specifically for the beach. After researching the idea and developing prototypes, he created the Ballast Beach Pillow—a portable, weather-resistant pillow with a built-in pouch that can be filled with sand to keep it from blowing away in the wind. The product launched in 2020 and quickly gained popularity, expanding into a line of beach and outdoor accessories designed to make time by the water more comfortable and relaxing.
For the launch of the Ballast Towel Band, I helped develop two distinct striped surface patterns that would give the product a clear visual identity while remaining versatile for beach use. These patterns helped bring the product to market with a strong visual presence, supporting the launch of the Towel Band as both a functional accessory and a cohesive extension of the Ballast brand.
For the launch of the Ballast Blanket, I helped develop two distinct surface patterns designed to capture the spirit of the coasts that inspire the brand. We expanded this year with a third blanket offering that includes a fun retro palm-inspired surface design.
2024 saw the launch of the Ballast Pillowcases—an interchangeable cover system for the Ballast Beach Pillow that allows users to refresh the look of their pillow while maintaining the durability needed for beach environments. The covers also create an opportunity to expand the brand’s visual identity through textiles, introducing a line of playful new designs while extending the life and versatility of the core product.
We continue to collaborate with Ballast each year to develop new surface designs across their product line, keeping the collection feeling fresh and seasonal.
We’re excited to continue this partnership and help bring even more new products and patterns to market in 2026.
