Mothers Day Mug Design
Print-Ready Design
Adobe Illustrator
This project involved crafting a print ready Mother’s Day mug design for HJM Designs’ Nick Freitas merch shop. The challenge was blending a playful patriotic tone with a warm, heartfelt look that speaks to sons and daughters picking out a special gift. In Adobe Illustrator I focused on typography led layouts, balanced colour palettes and subtle branding so the design stayed on message and was production ready. It highlights how I translate a brand’s voice into tangible, marketable products.
The Client
HJM Designs, led by Harry Murphy, commissioned a Mother’s Day mug for Nick Freitas’s merch shop. Freitas is an American politician and social media commentator whose brand values are direct communication, patriotism and family. His lighthearted “dad humour” also resonates with his audience.
Core Values
Direct Communication
Patriotism
Family
Brand Personality
Feminine
Patriotic
Bluntly Honest
Target Audience
Conservative
Patriots
Dad Humour
Nick wanted a humorous, text-driven mug design that felt feminine and heartfelt while honouring his patriotic, no-nonsense style. The final artwork needed to be fully print-ready on arrival, complete with production specs and correct bleeds, so it could go straight to the printer with no extra tweaks.
Project
Humorous Mother’s Day Mug Design for Nick's Audience
Design Focus
Feminine
Patriotic
Bluntly Honest
Funny
Deliverables
Print Ready Design
Individual Assets
Design Docs
The Design
The goal was to create a Mothers Day mug design that reflected Nick Freitas’s core values of patriotism, family and integrity while feeling thoughtful and gift-appropriate. The real challenge was balancing his political identity with a design that would genuinely resonate with mothers who may not know or follow Freitas. It needed to come across as personal, warm and intentional—with subtle touches of patriotism—without feeling overtly political.
Visual Style
I took the American flag’s red, white and blue but softened the red into a muted pink to give a more gift-friendly feel. Retaining the blue and white kept the design tied to Freitas’s branding without feeling overly political.
Typography & Icons
A bold but approachable sans serif carries the main message, while small icons of hearts and stars reinforce themes of love, gratitude and patriotism. These touches add warmth without cluttering the layout.
Personal Touch
On the reverse I left space for a handwritten-style note so the gift-giver can add a personal sentiment. The contrast between the clean front and the informal back strikes a balance between structure and emotion.
Audience Consideration
I aimed the design at Freitas’s core supporters—sons and daughters who want a meaningful Mother’s Day gift that reflects shared values without heavy political slogans. The result is a simple, versatile design that speaks to family and patriotism in equal measure.
The Result
The final assets were delivered on schedule, and HJM Designs handed the print-ready files over to Nick Freitas. He listed the mug on OnlyMugz as a limited Mother’s Day offering, promoted it in the run-up to the holiday and received positive feedback from his audience. The design struck a chord, drove several sales and generated healthy profit for Freitas’s shop. Both HJM Designs and Freitas agreed it was a success—and a clear example of how thoughtful design can boost marketing and sales.
"Jimmi provided a high quality service as a contracted graphic designer. We hired RavenPixel to assist with a high volume of design work. He provided an expedited service, delivered each project ahead of schedule and was receptive to any changes we needed. His skillset was integral to helping us meet our business needs."
Harry Murphy
HJM Design (Founder)
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