When a day trip turns into 145K+ Pin Impressions

A different type of case study.

A behind-the-scenes look at how I turned a personal experience into a brand concept.

My approach to channeling feeling, observation and aesthetics into design. And how this shapes my creative process.

This project is the result of a spontaneus day trip to a small fishing village on the Costa Brava -a place I fell in love with instantly. It’s one of those places where time doesn’t rush, and the smell of salt, sunscreen and grilled fish lingers in the air. That day stayed with me long after I left.

There was so much packed into it that a few days later, I had to get those ideas and feelings out of my head and translate them into something visual. And so it became a mini brand concept for a story-led travel planning agency.

My goal was to design the feeling of slow, intentional travel: nostalgia, anticipation, quiet beauty.

The best thing about creating something from passion is that you make it as if it’s for yourself.

You’re not trying to impress anyone. But still want to share a message.

So I imagined the kind of travel studio I’d build, and the emotions I wanted it to evoke.:

I thought about those pre-holiday moments setting your OOO email, packing a month’s worth of outfits for a five-day trip, while romanticizing the anticipation itself.

That’s what I wanted this brand to capture: not the destinations, but the feeling of the before and after-memories.

The creative direction and tone came naturally.

It was all about translating the mood into design.

A two-tone color palette that feels like the summer from five years ago got a rebrand.

Editorial typography for structure, script for accent -think handwritten postcards and notes.

The warmth of the visuals are softened through a washed-out retro filter.

Whitespace treated like a like a breath of French air

All the vintage feels, with just enough modern glam.

I imagined the kind of trips I’d plan for others: somewhere between nostalgia and rediscovery.

I shared the project on Pinterest and LinkedIn with no strategy, simply wanting to put my work out there. Within three weeks, the pins went from 260 impressions to over 50K.

According to data, people share or save a post because it makes them feel seen, inspired, or uncomfortably called out.

It’s never random.

It’s written or made for a specific person, in a specific moment, with a specific emotion in mind.

That’s how I built this project and how I approach design.

And how every creative problem we try to solve as business owners should start.

Designed from a feeling to evoke emotion.

And turning this emotion into something visible or tangible.

For the full story, you can read the blog post on my newly launched Beehiiv or Substack newsletters. Where I write about how my personal experiences become the fuel for inspiration and creative direction.

Visit my Pinterest.