It still feels a little bit surreal to say this out loud… my illustrated advent calendar for GRIND is officially out in the world! This was one of those commissions that lands in your inbox and immediately lights up every creative part of your brain.
Earlier this year I was invited to reimagine GRIND’s South London Roastery as a magical, festive workshop. When I visited the space, I was completely captivated by the choreography of it all, coffee beans whirling through clear tubes, pink machines humming, bags of beans arriving like characters in their own right. It felt like a modern-day, caffeine-powered version of Willy Wonka’s factory. I knew instantly that this was going to be an illustrated world I could really sink into.
The idea of transforming the roastery into the “Grind Grotto” came quickly, and once it did, the details started tumbling out faster than I could sketch them. There’s the pink forklift ferrying gifts, the elves in perfect candy-floss-pink jumpsuits and the magical wrapping conveyor belt. I wanted the artwork to feel explorable and bustling, the sort of scene you’d return to and spot something new each time.
The advent calendar comes in pod, bean, and ground versions, and honestly, it’s such a unique way to celebrate the cosy season. Seeing my illustrations wrapped around a real product — on shelves, in homes and in the hands of coffee lovers — has been one of the highlights of my year.
I loved the challenge of translating the energy of the Roastery into a festive illustrated world, and GRIND were such a brilliant team to collaborate with throughout the commission. This has been incredibly rewarding commission and I’m so excited that it’s now out there for people to enjoy!
Thanks for reading,
Jacqueline x