Kindred Black
This project is anexploration of scent and form, reimagining Kindred Black’s handcrafted glass bottles in an unexpected light, capturing the essence of slow beauty and artisanal craftsmanship. Created in collaboration with Abigail Atwell.
2026 Branding, Social
Design, Animation: Kiu Cheung, Abigail Atwell
Sound: Kiu Cheung
KINDRED BLACK
What Is It Like To Be Kindred?
The goal of this project was to visualize the scent of Kindred Black and present their handcrafted glass bottles in a fresh, unexpected way, while conveying the brand’s philosophy of slow beauty and artisanal craftsmanship. Abigail Atwell is the collaborator on this project.
DESIGN CHALLENGE
All pictures of Kindred Black is from KindredBlack.com and their Instagram.
01. Research
We began by researching the brand’s mission and identifying what sets its products apart. Kindred Black is rooted in the philosophy of slow beauty, an environmentally conscious skincare and fragrance brand that prioritizes sustainability, intentional production, and artisan craftsmanship.
Brand Mission
01. Research
The beautifully colored, hand-blown glass bottles are essential to Kindred Black’s identity. Each vessel is intentionally unbranded and one of a kind, emphasizing craftsmanship and individuality. Resembling small potion bottles, they transform everyday skincare into a personal ritual, something intimate and ceremonial.
Glass Bottles
01. Research
Many of Kindred Black’s fragrances draw inspiration from Greek mythology. We explored the mythological references behind each scent, along with the brand’s use of color and materiality. This helped us better understand their visual language and product storytelling.
Brand Voice
2. Approach
Inspired by Kindred Black’s bottle-making process., we researched each step of the craft, from sourcing raw materials, to melting the glass in a furnace, to shaping and finally annealing (cooling) the form.
Rather than creating a polished 3D rendering of the bottle—commonly seen in fragrance commercials, we wanted to represent the brand in a more intimate, human-centered way.
We turned to the paintings of Paul Klee and Sohan Quadri for visual inspiration. Many of Klee's works evoke the feeling of stained glass, which resonated with the luminous glass bottles. We studied how both artists represents forms and shapes, through simplified geometry and rhythmic composition.
Elemental, Mystical, Poetic
03. Texture Creation
We visited the print studio to experiment with texture using found materials and monoprint technique. Through this hands-on process, we generated organic, imperfect surfaces.
04. Design
We explored a range of designs in After Effects to achieve a painterly look while conveying the story of glassmaking. Using abstract, simplified shapes, we experimented with different compositions to find the most expressive and visually engaging arrangement.
Texture
Here’s a step-by-step overview of how we created the look digitally. We studied oil paintings, focusing on how colors blend seamlessly and how edges appear soft rather than sharply defined. We translated that subtle blending into AfterEffects using layering and various effects like blur, roughen edges, matte choker etc..
Close up of Mark Rothko's Oil Painting We Referenced
05. Crafting Story
What Is It Like To Be Kindred?
We focused on crafting a story through both script and sound, ensuring every line subtly reflected the glassmaking process and the natural forces that shape it. The script evokes transformation, fluidity, and interaction with the elements, mirroring how molten glass takes form.
Shout out to Kelly Warner with helping us on music and recording!
06. Animation
Embossing
Layer Styles were used to create an embossed finish inspired by Kindred Black’s paper packaging, adding subtle depth and a tactile quality to the visuals.
Type Animation
The typography animation was built using the Text Animator, allowing the text to remain fully editable while keeping the same animation system. This made it easy to update content without rebuilding the motion.
Patterns
A texture image was treated with Mosaic, then combined with Glow, Fast Box Blur, and Turbulent Displace to create dynamic, flowing patterns.
Bars and Gradeints
Gradient blocks and bar elements were created in pre comps, with effects like Bulge and Bezier Warp applied to shape them. Working with precomps kept the design modular and easy to adjust.
07. Final
Collaboration
Abigail and I had a great time collaborating on this project! We developed the initial concept and created the textures together, establishing the overall tone and structure of the piece. I focused more on the initial design, while Abigail worked on some motion tests. I then animated the yellow, red, and blue sections, as well as the ending, and handled the final edit. Abigail worked on the introduction and the transitions from yellow to red and into the purple section, and was responsible for the initial sound design and script writing.