ILAURA LONGLEY
Ilaura Longley is a Fairbanks-based jeweler crafting one-of-a-kind pieces from natural gold nuggets and fossilized mammoth tusk, sourced locally from the Alaskan Boneyard. Her work celebrates Alaska’s deep history and raw beauty, transforming ancient materials into timeless adornment.
Deliverables:
Custom Illustration
Packaging Design
Exploration + Process
Ilaura first reached out with her “Matriarctic” concept, a celebration of hard-working women in Alaska. She envisioned a custom illustration featuring a feminized mammoth, powerful and symbolic. Through early sketches, we explored how to bring that vision to life in a way that felt both fierce and artful, while still tying back to the story of her materials and her brand.
Custom Artwork
The final illustration features a mammoth skeleton, its form filled with intricate peony blossoms to suggest a complete, living figure.
To meet Ilaura’s needs, the piece was created twice—once digitally for packaging applications, and once by hand with ink and watercolor as a fine art piece.
The tusks were detailed to echo the natural blue feathering unique to fossilized tusk. The result is both delicate and commanding: an emblem of strength, beauty, and Alaska’s enduring landscape.
Upgrading the Packaging
We carried the illustration into Ilaura’s packaging to elevate the unboxing experience. A custom pocket sleeve was designed with the mammoth skeleton artwork stamped in gold foil, setting a luxurious first impression.
Inside, we created miniature art prints complete with her logo in gold foil, which double as thank you cards on the back. We also refreshed her care card insert for mammoth tusk pieces. Both cards tuck neatly into the pocket sleeve, which then accompanies her jewelry, which is carefully placed in a branded suede pouch.
Brand Extensions
The Matriarctic illustration took on a life beyond packaging. Ilaura adapted the artwork into merchandise including garments, hats, and tumblers, which quickly became fan favorites on her Instagram. The illustration continues to broaden her reach while staying deeply rooted in her Alaskan identity.
The Outcome
The collaboration gave Ilaura a striking piece of brand artwork that strengthened her identity and reach.
The updated packaging elevated her customer experience, creating a memorable unboxing moment that reflects the artistry of her jewelry.
The Matriarctic illustration has since become an iconic extension of her brand, fueling excitement on social media and connecting her audience more deeply to her work and values.
"Oh my gosh, I’m obsessed! It’s so exciting to see the Matriarctic come to life—so dang good, I love it so much. The new care cards are perfect; the color of the sleeves matches my pouches beautifully, and the quality feels so thick and nice. I couldn’t be happier—thank you, thank you!"
Ilaura Longley
Owner, Ilaura Longley
