In the spring of 2004 students in a Graphic Design graduate studio worked with the owners and winemaker at Sakonnet Vineyards, coastal New England’s oldest artisan winery, to develop a label for a new vintage of wine introduced this fall. The red-and-black label design selected for the 2002 Rhode Island Red wine was chosen from half a dozen developed by teams of students who researched and refined their designs together. Their goal was to create eye-catching graphics that not only promote the Sakonnet brand, but complement the distinctive nature of the wine itself.

Sakonnet’s Rhode Island Red is a hearty blend of three different grape varieties grown at its estate vineyards in Little Compton, RI. “Its deep ruby color and silky tannins are complemented by delicious aromas of blue- and boysenberries, violets and lilac, and a subtle hint of toasted American oak,” notes winemaker Christian Butzke. Inspired by the legendary artist label series produced by Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, which featured works by artists from Picasso to Warhol, it was Butzke who initiated the project with RISD.

The winning design team included graduate students Cavan Huang [RISD MFA ’05, Graphic Design], Scott Thorpe [RISD MFA ’05, Graphic Design], Susie Nielsen [RISD MFA ’05, Graphic Design] and Peter Freedman [RISD MFA ’05, Graphic Design]. Although their designs had to comply will all federal regulations for wine labels (a learning experience in and of itself), students were encouraged to solve the design challenge as artistically and creatively as possible. “The teams produced an extraordinary array of design concepts that made it almost impossible for the winery and vineyard staff to choose just a single label,” note Sakonnet’s proprietors Susan and Earl Samson.

The vineyard now hopes to return to RISD for future label designs. It’s the kind of collaboration that gives students an opportunity to design for actual commercial applications and provides the client organization with thoughtful and fresh solutions.

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