"Essie x Wes Anderson" is a fictional advertising campaign imagining a collaboration between the iconic nail polish brand and the instantly recognisable visual world of director Wes Anderson. This project allowed me to explore the intersection of beauty, cinema, and design by merging the storytelling elegance of Anderson’s films with the playful, fashion-forward personality of Essie.

Working closely with Graphic Designer Rhianna Grainger, we designed and built bespoke card sets that echoed the symmetry, stylised interiors, and nostalgic textures often seen in Anderson’s work. Each set was carefully constructed to reflect the mood and aesthetic of a particular film, drawing colour palette inspiration from titles such as The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom, and The Royal Tenenbaums.

Essie’s nail polish shades were paired with these cinematic scenes, chosen for how they echoed or contrasted with the dominant colours in each set — allowing the product to become part of the narrative rather than simply placed within it. Attention to detail was key: from costume styling and prop selection to lighting and composition, every decision was made to ensure that the images felt cohesive, immersive, and on-brand for both Essie and the world of Wes Anderson.

The result is a vibrant, imaginative series that feels both commercially engaging and creatively unique — a celebration of colour, craft, and collaboration.