NellieBly Rye Whiskey
Handlettering & Label Design
NellieBly Rye Whiskey is inspired by the persistent spirit of the first woman investigative journalist in the United States, Nellie Bly. While she rose to fame for her article “Ten Days in a Mad-House”, Nellie infiltrated institutions time and time again to uncover truths and inspire change. May we all gain the spirit of Nellie Bly in the pursuit of speaking our truth.
To successfully expose the real and brutal treatment of mentally ill patients for her article, Ten-Days in a Mad-house, Nellie faked insanity and infiltrated New York’s Insane Asylum. Due to the revelations made in her expose, officials committed an additional million dollars annually toward care for the mentally ill.
I focused on 3 things to tell Nellie's story through Victorian Typography: her persistent spirit, the creepiness of the asylum, and the 10 days she spent at the asylum. The name—NellieBly—extends beyond the label to symbolize how persistent she was. The letterforms are tall and sharp to insinuate a creepy nature. Lastly, the little red flowers on the stem of each letter are inspired by the architectural details of the asylum building and represent the days she spent uncovering the truth.
Platinum Graphis New Talent 2023
