sarah dranoff - Capstone

Senior Project

Wanderlust

Wanderlust is a lifestyle brand I created for adventurous water sports enthusiasts, reflecting bold personalities and a deep love for nature, exploration, and thrill. Inspired by my lifelong passion for outdoor adventures and growing up near Florida’s coastlines, I wanted to design a brand that felt as authentic and energized as the people who live to dive, surf, paddleboard, and explore. The slogan, “Dive In. Stand Out.”, speaks to the heart of Wanderlust, encouraging self-expression while promoting marine conservation and active, eco-conscious living. I drew inspiration from brands like Ron Jon, Billabong, and Patagonia and designers such as DKNG Studios and Jay Fletcher. Their bold, coastal-driven styles helped shape the visual language of the brand, which includes original illustrations, typography, and a vivid ocean-inspired color palette.

My creative process began with researching current design trends and market strategies in the water sports and apparel space. From mood boards and sketches to developing a full logo suite, brand assets, and packaging concepts, I worked through iterative design to ensure visual cohesion across all merchandise. I produced and tested items like t-shirts, tote bags, beach towels, and stickers, using platforms like Printify, and captured product photography through outdoor shoots. I built a fully functional Shopify website, launched a dedicated Instagram account (@shop.sarahdranoff), and developed a content calendar to align digital marketing with the brand's adventurous spirit. Wanderlust became more than just a class project; it’s a reflection of who I am as a designer and individual and proof of my ability to take a passion and transform it into a real brand.