jhnson.com

A graphic design portfolio for sean johnson

I use graphic design to bring order to noise, personality to structure, and meaning to brands, messages, and visuals.This portfolio is a record of that design philosophy; clear, crafted, and a little bit human.

An experimental print publication exploring the tension between beauty and disgust. Built from personal imagery, sourced essays, and bold typography experimentation, it celebrates contradiction in visual culture.

Brand identity and collateral for a startup-focused IT accelerator. Clean, minimalist, and reliable, designed to build trust with early-stage clients dealing with digital systems.

Why this project matters

Startups often have to look reasonably established before they are. For tech companies especially, clarity, trust, and consistency in branding can be the difference between opportunity and doubt for a client. Connectar supports these companies behind the scenes, so their identity had to reflect both knowledge and approachability.

What I did about it

I built a full brand identity froms cratch, starting with the mission and values: to empower businesses through reliable, minimalist, tech support. The tone needed to be direct, modern, and approachable. I delivered a visual identity system, logo package, colour palette, and tone of voice guidelines. Assets created included digital mockups, social content, and stationery.

Why it works

The brand hits the right tone; approachable, trustworthy, and quietly creative. It's adaptable enough for a broad clientbase, but specific enough to set Connectar apart in a saturated industry.

PROJECT #6

A self-initiated design platform for visual protest and poetic resistance. SomehowHappy blends satire and sincerity to explore difficult topics with raw, personal design work.

Why this project matters

Some conversations are too emotional or too uncomfortable for polished corporate design. SomehowHappy exists to say what can't be said elsewhere. It's where I test ideas that challenge norms, provoke reflection, and connect with people on more of a gut-level.

What I did about it

I creates the brand from scratch, developing its handwritten typography, colour palette, tone of voice, and falling-man iconography. The content lives mostly online as digital posters, campaign mockups, and visual essays that try to blend sincerity and satire. It's both a section of my design portfolio and an ongoing outlet for political, poetic, and personal themes.

Why it works

SomehowHappy doesn't aim to please; it aims to resonate. By staying emotionally honest and visually direct, even when unconventional, it opens a space for design that feels just as much as it functions.

A rugby league led alcohol awareness campaign aimed at young adults. Through friendly visuals and honest language, it replaces scare tactics with empowerment and education.

Why this project matters

Alcohol and rugby league culture are tightly linked, but not always in a positive way. Rugby League Northland wanted to challenge unhealthy drinking habits in the community while keeping the social spirit of the game alive. Play Smart, Drink Smart encourages players and fans to enjoy rugby league responsibly without alcohol getting in the way of performance, safety, or community values.

What I did about it

The campaign takes a on-the-nose, but supportive approach, using clear messages and a bold visual to reframe drinking as a choice rather than an expectation. A key part of this was the main hero image; a photoshopped, lighthearted take on a serious topic. By making a sort of caricature of the effects of alcohol, it caught attention while still making an important point. Alongside this, I developed graphics, posters, and social media content that highlight smart drinking habits without sounding preachy. By focusing on team values, well-being, and the balance of sport and health, the campaign stays relatable and practical.

Why it works

Play Smart, Drink Smart doesn’t shame drinking, but instead shifts the focus to playing at your best and looking out for your team. The hero image sets the tone, making the message approachable rather than heavy-handed, which resonated more with the target audience. By blending humor with a clear message, the campaign speaks to rugby players and fans in a way that feels natural, not forced, making responsible drinking a part of the game-day culture instead of a rule to rebel against.

A fictional alt-milk brand that uses humor, nostalgia, and bold messaging to challenge outdated norms around dairy. Designed to flip the stigma and reposition plant-based as the new standard.

Why this project matters

Alternative food products still face stigma, making them less accessible and more expensive. Despite advances in food science, dairy remains the norm due to outdated habits and unfair pricing. Surcharges on plant-based options reinforce the idea that they are 'extra' rather than standard. BLACKTOP CO challenges this, positioning dairy as outdated instead of shaming its consumers.

What I did about it

BLACKTOP CO uses humor and disruption to reframe the conversation. Our ‘reject copy’ flips the narrative, making dairy drinkers the unconventional choice. Inspired by 1930s-40s American dairy packaging, BLACKTOP CO’s branding is bold, nostalgic, and familiar, standing apart from the typical ‘clean and green’ plant-based aesthetic. Instead of sitting in the ‘alternative’ aisle, BLACKTOP CO competes directly with dairy, reinforcing its status as the new standard.

Why it works

BLACKTOP CO isn’t just another plant-based brand—it’s a market disruptor. By blending cultural nostalgia with bold messaging, it shifts the conversation from substitution to evolution, filling the gap between premium-priced alternatives and outdated norms.

A guerrilla poster campaign that critiques selective government regulation. By mimicking tobacco warnings, it exposes the inconsistency in how other harmful products are treated.

Why this project matters

Health warnings in New Zealand aren’t exactly consistent. Cigarettes come covered in graphic warnings, while alcohol, energy drinks, and over-the-counter meds, despite their own risks, get off easy. This project points out that double standard and asks: if we’re serious about public health, why aren’t we treating all harmful products the same way?

What I did about it

I took everyday products like beer bottles, energy drinks, and painkillers and redesigned their packaging with cigarette-style warnings. Using a bold cut-and-paste aesthetic inspired by Dadaism, I subverted what we expect to see on these products. The mix of packaging design and staged photography made them look unsettling and real, forcing at least a second glance.I designed a guerrilla campaign using posters, pull-off flyers, and stickers that mimic official safety warnings. These were placed in libraries, universities, and other public spaces. The materials critique how regulatory measures are inconsistently applied, challenging the viewer to think critically about product safety. The campaign is interactive, encouraging the public to place stickers where they see fit—empowering people to continue the conversation.

Why it works

Convenient Warnings makes the invisible visible. By applying intense health warnings across different products, it exposes the selective way risks are communicated. The visuals and regulatory language feel both familiar and jarring, making it hard to ignore the message. Instead of telling people what to think, the project challenges them to question why some dangers are highlighted while others are overlooked.