A complete rebrand for CUP of TEA in Clackamas, including new packaging, illustrations, custom icons, and a refreshed website to reflect their nature vibe.
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Truax Designs
Truax Designs
The Metal Sculpture Expirence
Have you ever wanted to visit an alien world full of metal? Truax Designs is an experience where people not only interact with sculpture but take a piece home.
Strategy
- Visual Identity
- Brand Collateral
- Illustration
- Website Design
Truax Designs
The Metal Sculpture Expirence
Have you ever wanted to visit an alien world full of metal? Truax Designs is an experience where people not only interact with sculpture but take a piece home.
Strategy
- Visual Identity
- Brand Collateral
- Illustration
- Website Design
Two friends that built an alien world.
Several years before Graphicsbyte was formed Mark Boehly took a sculpture class at Clackamas Community College. In the class, he met a student named Christopher Truax. The two became good friends but eventually lost contact. In 2013 the two randomly reconnected at an art gallery in Portland. The show featured Christopher’s metal sculpture. He had articulated robots, tall animals inspired by Salvador Dali, a robotic DJ, and even a flying toaster. As a solo act, it was nice to see an old friend living the dream as a master sculptor.
The gallery event took place a few weeks after Mark graduated from Portland State University. This was a good time to look for new opportunities. He agreed to build Christopher a website and a logo. The payment was a trade for a custom piece of sculpture. Before the website and brand were finished Christopher shared a prototype where objects were infused in metal. The sculpture looked like it came straight out of a science fiction movie. Instantly Mark knew this was something worth exploring. Mark decided to join the team and learn how to build his own sculptures. He then agreed to market the new product know known as “Karbon Kast.” (The sign in the photo on the left uses this process.) Together Christopher and Mark formed a creative friendship and still continue to produce new works of art to this day.
Two friends that built an alien world.
Several years before Graphicsbyte was formed Mark Boehly took a sculpture class at Clackamas Community College. In the class, he met a student named Christopher Truax. The two became good friends but eventually lost contact. In 2013 the two randomly reconnected at an art gallery in Portland. The show featured Christopher’s metal sculpture. He had articulated robots, tall animals inspired by Salvador Dali, a robotic DJ, and even a flying toaster. As a solo act, it was nice to see an old friend living the dream as a master sculptor.
The gallery event took place a few weeks after Mark graduated from Portland State University. This was a good time to look for new opportunities. He agreed to build Christopher a website and a logo. The payment was a trade for a custom piece of sculpture. Before the website and brand were finished Christopher shared a prototype where objects were infused in metal. The sculpture looked like it came straight out of a science fiction movie. Instantly Mark knew this was something worth exploring. Mark decided to join the team and learn how to build his own sculptures. He then agreed to market the new product know known as “Karbon Kast.” (The sign in the photo on the left uses this process.) Together Christopher and Mark formed a creative friendship and still continue to produce new works of art to this day.
Logo Design
In Early 2014 Truax Designs reveled a new product called Karbon Kast at the AFRU Gallery in Portland. It was an instant hit. Over 60 items sold on the opening night and a dozen more throughout the week. When the event was over Mark and Chris started to produce hundreds of sculptures. They were preparing for their next show at the Portland Expo called America’s Largest Christmas Bazaar.
This event was also a huge success. Karbon Kast attracted dozens of new fans and this was when we presented the company logo for the first time.
The brand was designed after a robotic angel named Lily. She is fully articulated and was built for stop-motion animation. Mark designed an enclosure logo that showcases the robots most iconic features. Red became the brands primary color because it matches Lily’s brother Apollo who is also an articulated robot in the series. The physical color of the two robots together are both light and dark. This formed a Yin & Yang in the color palette.
A condensed san serif typeface was created to fit in the enclosures negative space. Today that type has become the brand’s main focal point. Wings are a common element found in the brands metal sculptures. So it only made since to add graphic wings to print media such as business cards and flyers.
Logo Design
In Early 2014 Truax Designs reveled a new product called Karbon Kast at the AFRU Gallery in Portland. It was an instant hit. Over 60 items sold on the opening night and a dozen more throughout the week. When the event was over Mark and Chris started to produce hundreds of sculptures. They were preparing for their next show at the Portland Expo called America’s Largest Christmas Bazaar.
This event was also a huge success. Karbon Kast attracted dozens of new fans and this was when we presented the company logo for the first time.
The brand was designed after a robotic angel named Lily. She is fully articulated and was built for stop-motion animation. Mark designed an enclosure logo that showcases the robots most iconic features. Red became the brands primary color because it matches Lily’s brother Apollo who is also an articulated robot in the series. The physical color of the two robots together are both light and dark. This formed a Yin & Yang in the color palette.
A condensed san serif typeface was created to fit in the enclosures negative space. Today that type has become the brand’s main focal point. Wings are a common element found in the brands metal sculptures. So it only made since to add graphic wings to print media such as business cards and flyers.
Website Evolution
Truax Designs has gone through several website iterations as the studio has grown. The earliest versions served as a portfolio for co-founder Christopher Truax, focusing on his individual metal sculpture work. As the team expanded and the brand matured, the website evolved to reflect a broader, more collaborative identity.
The most recent version of the website is centered around e-commerce and engagement. While Etsy remains the primary sales platform, the site now includes a shop for direct purchases, especially for higher-end sculptures. Visitors can also submit intake forms to request custom pieces, making the site a tool for both sales and commissions.
A major feature of the new site is the Karbon Kast case study, which showcases the success of our cast resin product line. This section highlights the growing impact of the brand, including celebrity collectors and media recognition, positioning Karbon Kast as a standout offering within the Truax Designs portfolio.
The homepage also includes a section to browse upcoming shows and events, allowing visitors to connect with the team in person and experience the work firsthand.
Visit Site
Karbon Kast & Illustrated Hybrids
Creating the art is one of the best perks of working with Truax Designs. In 2017 we started to create 3D printed prototypes. These prints were infused in the metal and turned into success stories at events like Comic Con. We also created some mixed-media hybrids using Graphicsbyte art as the focal point. The Karbon Kast was then used as a secondary texture.
Karbon Kast & Illustrated Hybrids
Creating the art is one of the best perks of working with Truax Designs. In 2017 we started to create 3D printed prototypes. These prints were infused in the metal and turned into success stories at events like Comic Con. We also created some mixed-media hybrids using Graphicsbyte art as the focal point. The Karbon Kast was then used as a secondary texture.
The Pop-Up Gallery
Towards the end of 2017 Truax Designs created a pop up gallery in Oregon City called Truax Gallery. Mark and Chris spent a year here selling metal sculptures to the general public. About three months into the project we needed another line of art. Graphicsbyte received an opportunity to sell prints and sticker packs. This added a splash of color to the gallery and attracted a different audience.
The Pop-Up Gallery
Towards the end of 2017 Truax Designs created a pop up gallery in Oregon City called Truax Gallery. Mark and Chris spent a year here selling metal sculptures to the general public. About three months into the project we needed another line of art. Graphicsbyte received an opportunity to sell prints and sticker packs. This added a splash of color to the gallery and attracted a different audience.
Chapter 2
Truax Studio Gallery
Even though the Oregon City gallery was short lived the experience was everything the artists hoped for. The following year the crew packed up and moved to West Linn. The new location had a storefront connected to the same building the Truax Designs workshop is in. This move was going to speed up production… Soon as we were getting ready to officially launch the second chapter of the gallery Coivid-19 came to Oregon. We were forced to cancel the project. Truax Designs still has a workshop in the West Linn building but it’s not open to the public.
Chapter 2
Truax Studio Gallery
Even though the Oregon City gallery was short lived the experience was everything the artists hoped for. The following year the crew packed up and moved to West Linn. The new location had a storefront connected to the same building the Truax Designs workshop is in. This move was going to speed up production… Soon as we were getting ready to officially launch the second chapter of the gallery Coivid-19 came to Oregon. We were forced to cancel the project. Truax Designs still has a workshop in the West Linn building but it’s not open to the public.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What services did Graphicsbyte provide for Truax Designs?
Graphicsbyte provided logo design, visual identity, brand collateral, illustration, and multiple iterations of the Truax Designs website including an e-commerce build. Mark Boehly of Graphicsbyte is also a co-founder of the studio and an active creative partner, contributing original illustrated artwork to the Karbon Kast product line.
What is the story behind the Truax Designs logo?
The logo was designed around Lily, a fully articulated robotic angel built by Christopher Truax for stop-motion animation. The enclosure logo highlights her most iconic features and uses red as the primary brand color, inspired by Lily’s counterpart Apollo. A custom condensed sans-serif typeface was created to fit within the logo’s negative space and has since become the brand’s main typographic focal point. Graphic wings, a recurring element in Truax metal sculptures, were added to print collateral as a brand signature.
What is Karbon Kast?
Karbon Kast is a cast resin product line developed by Truax Designs that infuses objects and artwork into metal to create sculptures that look like they came from a science fiction film. The line has been sold at events including Comic Con and has attracted a collector base that includes well-known celebrities. Graphicsbyte contributed original illustrated hybrid artworks to the Karbon Kast lineup.
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Projects
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Projects
Outside The Box – Cabinet Door Web Design
Outside The Box
Custom Cabinet Door Web Design
Outside The Box (OTB) was an eCommerce brand built for contractors and DIY enthusiasts specializing in cabinetry. The goal was to make custom cabinet doors more accessible through a streamlined online shopping experience.
We developed a comprehensive Cabinet Door Web Design solution that allowed customers to browse, customize, and order raw doors, stains, lacquers, and specialty finishes all in one place. We turned a complex ordering process into a simple digital path.
Services
Outside The Box
Custom Cabinet Door Web Design
Outside The Box (OTB) was an eCommerce brand built for contractors and DIY enthusiasts specializing in cabinetry. The goal was to make custom cabinet doors more accessible through a streamlined online shopping experience.
We developed a comprehensive Cabinet Door Web Design solution that allowed customers to browse, customize, and order raw doors, stains, lacquers, and specialty finishes all in one place. We turned a complex ordering process into a simple digital path.
Services
The Design Challenge
The DIY Refacing Experience
The DIY scene is in full force. The founder, Jamie, approached us with her brainchild. She saw an opportunity to provide a hassle-free experience for users to pursue DIY cabinet refacing. Already knowledgeable in the trade herself, she wanted to create a start-to-finish learning center and shop.
Our Cabinet Door Web Design strategy focused on education first. We engineered a web experience to accomplish Jamie’s goals. It taught all the skills needed for cabinet refacing via a video series while stocking their quality custom doors and supplies.
The Design Challenge
The DIY Refacing Experience
The DIY scene is in full force. The founder, Jamie, approached us with her brainchild. She saw an opportunity to provide a hassle-free experience for users to pursue DIY cabinet refacing. Already knowledgeable in the trade herself, she wanted to create a start-to-finish learning center and shop.
Our Cabinet Door Web Design strategy focused on education first. We engineered a web experience to accomplish Jamie’s goals. It taught all the skills needed for cabinet refacing via a video series while stocking their quality custom doors and supplies.
Visual Strategy
Website Product Photography
Outside the Box wanted the website to focus on the high quality of the product they produced. They needed to showcase everything from solid wood doors to their hand-applied stains and glazes.
We scheduled multiple photoshoots to capture the manufacturing process. We worked alongside the production team to take photos during each stage of the build. We highlighted these high-resolution images in the product information sections of the site to build trust with the customer.
Content Strategy
Step-by-Step Education
Content was a major component of this Cabinet Door Web Design project. Outside the Box had previously created a video series to teach inexperienced Do-It-Yourselfers and the Maker community how to reface their cabinets.
We transcribed each video and added additional information to the pages. By combining text, photos, and video, we created complete step-by-step tutorials accessible straight from the website.
Content Strategy
Step-by-Step Education
Content was a major component of this Cabinet Door Web Design project. Outside the Box had previously created a video series to teach inexperienced Do-It-Yourselfers and the Maker community how to reface their cabinets.
We transcribed each video and added additional information to the pages. By combining text, photos, and video, we created complete step-by-step tutorials accessible straight from the website.
Technical Execution
Complex eCommerce Architecture
We sat down with the Outside the Box team to construct a detailed product tree. The challenge was building complex dropdown options that catered to the specific needs of DIY cabinet refacing.
We utilized flexible platforms like Bigcommerce to manage these variables. The user was able to choose exactly what they needed for their project, including wood species, door style, door size, stain or tinted lacquer, and hinge prep. This intelligent system ensured that different wood species only showed the compatible stains and lacquers, preventing user error during the ordering process.
Technical Execution
Complex eCommerce Architecture
We sat down with the Outside the Box team to construct a detailed product tree. The challenge was building complex dropdown options that catered to the specific needs of DIY cabinet refacing.
We utilized flexible platforms like Bigcommerce to manage these variables. The user was able to choose exactly what they needed for their project, including wood species, door style, door size, stain or tinted lacquer, and hinge prep. This intelligent system ensured that different wood species only showed the compatible stains and lacquers, preventing user error during the ordering process.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What services did Graphicsbyte provide for Outside The Box?
Graphicsbyte provided brand strategy, website design, web development, eCommerce, content strategy, and product photography for Outside The Box. The project ran from October 2017 through April 2020 and delivered a full Bigcommerce eCommerce platform with intelligent product configuration, step-by-step educational tutorials, and professional manufacturing photography.
How did Graphicsbyte handle the complex cabinet door ordering system?
Graphicsbyte worked with the Outside The Box team to construct a detailed product tree and build complex dropdown options on Bigcommerce. The system was designed so that different wood species only showed compatible stains and lacquers, preventing user error during the ordering process. Customers could configure their order by choosing wood species, door style, door size, stain or tinted lacquer, and hinge prep all in one streamlined flow.
How was the educational content strategy developed for Outside The Box?
Outside The Box had an existing video series teaching DIY cabinet refacing. Graphicsbyte transcribed each video and added additional written content and photography to create complete step-by-step tutorials accessible directly from the website. By combining text, photos, and video, the site became a start-to-finish learning center that educated customers before and during the ordering process.
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Projects
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Projects
Parrett Mountain Cellars
Parrett Mountain Cellars
Nestled in the trees of Parrett Mountain, this scenic wine-tasting lodge offers visitors a serene escape into Oregon wine country. After several on-site photography sessions capturing the natural beauty and rustic charm of the space, we helped develop a website that reflects the warmth and elegance of the brand, inviting guests to explore wines, events, and more.
Strategy
- Website Design
- Photography
Parrett Mountain Cellars
Nestled in the trees of Parrett Mountain, this scenic wine-tasting lodge offers visitors a serene escape into Oregon wine country. After several on-site photography sessions capturing the natural beauty and rustic charm of the space, we helped develop a website that reflects the warmth and elegance of the brand, inviting guests to explore wines, events, and more.
Strategy
- Website Design
- Photography
Bold Oregon Wine
Parrett Mountain Cellars is a small-batch winery and tasting room run by a husband-and-wife duo in Oregon wine country. Specializing in bold reds and Pinot Noir, their wines are produced in limited annual runs. When we first connected, their new lodge-style tasting room was still in its early stages of construction, and they were preparing to grow their brand presence.
Winemaking is their labor of love, and they needed a website that reflected the care and craftsmanship behind every bottle. In collaboration with Velare Media, we transformed their DIY GoDaddy site into a fully custom WordPress experience, built to showcase their wines, promote events, and grow with their future.
Bold Oregon Wine
Parrett Mountain Cellars is a small-batch winery and tasting room run by a husband-and-wife duo in Oregon wine country. Specializing in bold reds and Pinot Noir, their wines are produced in limited annual runs. When we first connected, their new lodge-style tasting room was still in its early stages of construction, and they were preparing to grow their brand presence.
Winemaking is their labor of love, and they needed a website that reflected the care and craftsmanship behind every bottle. In collaboration with Velare Media, we transformed their DIY GoDaddy site into a fully custom WordPress experience, built to showcase their wines, promote events, and grow with their future.
Photography
When we began the project, Parrett Mountain Cellars had very few photos—most were low-resolution and not usable for a professional website. To elevate their visual presence, we scheduled an on-site shoot at their original tasting room and winery. We captured updated imagery of their wines, small vineyard, and the tasting room environment.
At the time, the new lodge was still under construction, so these photos served as a crucial foundation for their updated brand and online presence.
Photography
When we began the project, Parrett Mountain Cellars had very few photos—most were low-resolution and not usable for a professional website. To elevate their visual presence, we scheduled an on-site shoot at their original tasting room and winery. We captured updated imagery of their wines, small vineyard, and the tasting room environment.
At the time, the new lodge was still under construction, so these photos served as a crucial foundation for their updated brand and online presence.
Website – Wine Club & eCommerce
Parrett Mountain Cellars sells a significant portion of their wine directly through their website, so we built a fully integrated eCommerce experience using WooCommerce. The storefront allows visitors to browse and purchase bottles with ease while maintaining the rustic charm of the brand.
We also developed a built-in wine club with Silver and Gold membership tiers, offering exclusive benefits and seasonal shipments. The entire system is designed to be easy for the client to manage and seamless for customers to join, shop, and stay connected.
Website – Wine Club & eCommerce
Parrett Mountain Cellars sells a significant portion of their wine directly through their website, so we built a fully integrated eCommerce experience using WooCommerce. The storefront allows visitors to browse and purchase bottles with ease while maintaining the rustic charm of the brand.
We also developed a built-in wine club with Silver and Gold membership tiers, offering exclusive benefits and seasonal shipments. The entire system is designed to be easy for the client to manage and seamless for customers to join, shop, and stay connected.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What services did Graphicsbyte provide for Parrett Mountain Cellars?
Graphicsbyte, in collaboration with Velare Media, provided website design, web development, eCommerce, photography, and content strategy for Parrett Mountain Cellars. The project ran from 2017 to 2022 and transformed a DIY GoDaddy site into a fully custom WordPress experience with WooCommerce integration, a wine club membership system, and a professional on-site photography library.
How was the Parrett Mountain Cellars eCommerce experience built?
The storefront was built using WooCommerce, allowing visitors to browse and purchase bottles directly from the website while maintaining the rustic charm of the brand. A wine club membership system was developed with Silver and Gold tiers, each offering exclusive benefits and seasonal shipments. The entire system was designed to be easy for the client to manage and seamless for customers to use.
Why was photography important to the Parrett Mountain Cellars project?
When the project began, Parrett Mountain Cellars had very few usable photos. Graphicsbyte scheduled multiple on-site photography sessions at the original tasting room and vineyard to capture updated imagery of the wines, the small vineyard, and the tasting room environment. At the time the new lodge was still under construction, so this photography served as the visual foundation for the entire updated brand and website.