The phrase witch was used to demonize the spiritual practices of BIPOC communities through history.
The allure of modern witchcraft lies in the promise that anyone can reclaim their power through a hodgepodge of spiritual mysticism. Yet that mysticism also often borrows from the specific spiritual practices of various oppressed peoples. Contrasting religion, witchcraft purposely avoids strict rules, with no definitive “right” or “wrong” ways to practice. At the same time that openness, along with its aesthetic online appeal, can cause real harm.
At Praline & Priestess, we want to share those practices in an inclusive and open way in the city known for it’s magic.
Boutique hotels are a popular alternative to large franchise hotels and continue to be a big trend in city areas. A fun difference in big and small hotels is that often small boutique hotels have themes or concepts they are designed around. For this project, I was tasked with creating a boutique hotel with a unique theme in a city of my choice. The deliverables that would need to be included were the guest check-in kit, toiletries and a website where they could book their stay.
I decided to base the concept of my hotel on celebrating the more mystical side of New Orleans culture. Teaching visitors to appreciate and learn more about how they can implement different spiritual practices in their lives,Praline & Priestess boutique hotel offers a witchy experience that has been known to empower women and POC for centuries.
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The experience a guest feels at a hotel is important and the things that surround them during their stay contribute to how they will remember a hotel. The collateral that is designed for Praline and Priestess includes door hangers, key cards, and a folder that contains a lookbook of the hotel.
The folder and lookbook were designed with with New Orleans and mystical themes in mind. The colorful gradient on the look book is inspired by the Mardi Gras celebrations in the city's tradition. The folder features a crystal ball, playing on the theme of divination and the idea that a relaxing vacation is in your future.
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The door hangers show witty saying that match the witchy theme of the hotel and let the cleaning service know when the guest are ready for their room to be cleaned.
The menus show an array of food that is available through room service or the cafe in the restaurant that is open for breakfast and brunch. It takes on an art deco style that matches the hotel's interior design and shows an array of NOLA classics.
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Toiletries are important to making the guest feel important during their stay. It is about convenience and the luxury to try new products/scents that match the hotel experience and add to it. The packaging and labels for the toiletries use the purple and green color palette to differentiate between the soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body wash.
This packaging would be for a diffuser that the guests can use while they stay in their hotel room. It matches the same theme as the branding with a motif of a flower to represent the scent.
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This coffee kit would come from a local coffee shop in New Orleans. The packaging of the coffee bag takes on the same gradient theme as the rest of the branding. The coffee cup shows the Hotel logo and acts as a souvenir for the guests to take home with them.
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