Illustration – W San Francisco Building

This illustration marked my first creative project upon joining W San Francisco. The piece features a detailed line drawing of the hotel building, paired with a bold gradient “W” that evokes both light and energy.

The design was inspired by the W brand’s identity: bold, artistic, and unapologetically expressive. I envisioned the gradient “W” as a spotlight — the kind used at concerts or exclusive events — casting light onto the building itself. In this way, the illustration reflects both the brand’s vibrant nightlife atmosphere and its role as a stage where individuality and creativity are celebrated. The composition was brought to life using the brand’s signature colors, reinforcing W’s distinctive identity.

After its creation, the design was adapted into custom merchandise and exclusive VIP gifts, including keychains, further extending the brand experience through art.

W San Francisco

Custom Logo – W San Francisco x Lotus Marketing Partnership

For the launch of a new partnership between W San Francisco and Lotus Marketing, I was tasked with creating a custom logo that represented both brands in a unified design. The result was a lotus-inspired emblem where the petals were formed using the “W” letters, symbolizing the collaboration’s growth and creativity.

The logo incorporated the signature colors of both brands, with one side featuring the W logo alongside gold-triangle motifs inspired by the hotel’s bedroom design elements of the “Gold Rush”. The lotus form paid homage to Lotus Marketing while seamlessly blending W San Francisco’s bold, artistic identity.

To make the collaboration even more memorable, the logo was carved into wood and produced as exclusive keepsake keychains, given to partners and VIPs as part of the campaign.

W San Francisco
x
Lotus Marketing

W San Francisco
x
Amber gibson

As part of W San Francisco’s partnership with renowned journalist Amber Gibson (New York Times, specializing in travel, food, wine, and wellness), I created a curated, multi-sensory welcome experience to highlight the hotel’s artistic and guest-focused identity.

To prepare, I researched Amber’s personal tastes — including her love of dark chocolate, champagne, and gelato — and designed a bespoke Insider Guide using Adobe InDesign following W San Francisco brand guidelines. This guide showcased local recommendations tailored to her interests, paired with personalized notes and curated imagery.

I also created a custom portrait illustration of Amber: her face stylized with colors she favors (blues with analogous red, green, and orange accents), and her form integrated with symbolic imagery. Within her hair and body, I incorporated travel motifs such as architecture and waterways, while her facial smile lines subtly formed a map of the Americas — a nod to her global perspective.

To complete the experience, I collaborated with our culinary team to arrange a personalized amenity: champagne and custom macarons, presented with a tent card menu using Adobe InDesign following W San Francisco brand guidelines.. The portrait illustration was also gifted to Amber, alongside personalized keepsakes featuring the W San Francisco brand.

This project combined illustration, design, and guest experience strategy to leave a lasting impression and strengthen W San Francisco’s partnership with Amber as she prepared content for The New York Times.

I also had the privilege of meeting Amber in person during her stay. She expressed her gratitude for the personalized art piece and was delighted by the thoughtfulness behind every detail. Amber asked if she could keep an original file of the illustration for herself, a request that deeply honored me. Her genuine appreciation not only validated the creative effort but also reinforced how W San Francisco’s distinctive, guest-focused experiences truly stand out.

In partnership with French painter, illustrator, filmmaker, and photographer Lucas Beaufort — known for his vibrant street art and skateboarding-inspired works — W San Francisco hosted a live mural creation in the newly renovated Penthouse Suite. Guests, VIPs, and fellow artists were invited to experience Lucas painting on-site over several days, transforming the hotel’s signature penthouse into a one-of-a-kind artistic destination.

To enhance the event, I collaborated with our Food & Beverage team to curate hors d’oeuvres inspired by Lucas’ signature color palette of yellows, greens, oranges, purples, and reds. This created a multi-sensory celebration of his artistry, aligning food presentation with the bold, neon-like tones of his mural.

As a personal tribute, I created a custom illustration inspired by Lucas’ own character “Gus Gus,” which he often describes as a reflection of himself. My piece depicted multiple “Gus Gus” figures drawing one another, symbolizing Lucas’ process of creating and recreating himself through art. Rendered in a blend of abstraction, figuration, and street-art style, the piece honored his signature visual language while offering my own interpretation.

Lucas was deeply moved by the work and the personalized letter I presented alongside it. He expressed a desire to collaborate further, extended invitations to his skateboarding events with Atlas in San Mateo, and shared how much he valued the creative exchange.

This partnership not only produced a permanent mural unique to W San Francisco’s Penthouse Suite but also strengthened the hotel’s cultural positioning by uniting brand identity, guest experience, and cross-disciplinary artistry.

W San Francisco
x
Lucas Beaufort

Presidential Suite Mural & Custom Artwork

W San Francisco
x
Sheraton Saigon

Personalized Golden Gate Bridge Illustration

During her visit to W San Francisco, I had the privilege of hosting Yen Thoai Truong, Director of Marketing at Sheraton Saigon and the inaugural winner of the David S. Marriott Next Gen Business Council Award. Her achievements in Vietnam and Cambodia represent innovation, community-building, and a commitment to Marriott’s core values.

As part of her stay, I escorted Yen through San Francisco — from daily hotel operations to an unforgettable evening cruise beneath the Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. This moment was deeply meaningful for her, as it was her first time experiencing the city in such a personal way.

In preparation for her visit, I also created a personalized Insider Guide designed in Adobe InDesign, following W San Francisco’s brand guidelines. The guide highlighted local spots I had carefully researched to match her personal interests, giving her both curated recommendations and thoughtful options for her time in the city.

To commemorate the occasion, I created a custom digital illustration capturing the cruise, the ocean, and the glowing Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. The piece symbolized not only her time in San Francisco but also the spirit of W Hotels: bold, memorable, and connected to place.

Her visit also coincided with San Francisco Art Week, during which W San Francisco partnered with SFMOMA to host events. Alongside the hotel’s executive team, Yen and I attended the Yayoi Kusama: Art of Noise exhibition, further enriching her cultural experience during her stay.

When I presented the artwork, Yen was visibly moved, sharing that no one had ever done something so personal for her. She was thrilled to take the piece home for her office as a reminder of her visit, our friendship, and the unique culture of W San Francisco.

To honor the visit of Sidra Bell, groundbreaking American dancer, choreographer, and educator — and the first Black woman to choreograph for the main stage of the New York City Ballet (Suspended Animation, 2021) — I created a custom artwork that celebrated both her artistry and her pioneering role in contemporary dance.

The piece was a line-art sketch of Sidra’s full body and face, detailed in pen-style strokes to reflect her fluidity of movement. Drawing inspiration from her roots in ballet and her contemporary dance innovations, I integrated her name into the design through dancing postures — forming the letters of “Sidra Bell” from graceful body positions. To emphasize her influence on fashion within dance, the illustration also featured a unique stylized costume element created specifically for her.

The final design was laser-engraved with Glowforge onto a custom wooden frame, transforming the illustration into a timeless keepsake. Sidra was recognized not only for her contributions to dance but also as an inspiration to W San Francisco guests, staff, and partners, making this commemorative piece a meaningful tribute to her visit.

W San Francisco
x
Sidra Bell

Commemorative Artwork

W San Francisco
x
American Association for Justice

Group and Partnership Artwork

To welcome the American Association for Justice (AAJ), a national organization dedicated to protecting victims’ rights, promoting fairness for injured persons, and strengthening the civil justice system, I created a custom logo-inspired artwork that merged their mission with W San Francisco’s identity.

The design reimagined the balance of justice by incorporating the W logo as the supporting pillars. At the center, the W San Francisco building rose as the column, symbolizing the connection between our property and their mission. The scales themselves were held by illustrated hands, with each chain linked to books — representing AAJ’s role in providing lawyers with knowledge, information, and professional resources critical to advocacy and justice.

This artwork was then adapted into a set of custom ceramic coasters, produced with Glowforge engraving, as a unique takeaway gift for the visiting VP group. The coasters not only symbolized the partnership between AAJ and W San Francisco but also served as a lasting reminder of our shared values and commitment to excellence.

By aligning their values of justice, education, and advocacy with W San Francisco’s culture of bold creativity, the project left a strong impression and helped strengthen the foundation for ongoing collaboration and return business.

W San Francisco
x
George P. Johnson

Partnership Art & Sustainability Gift

W San Francisco began a partnership with George P. Johnson (GPJ), a global leader in strategic experience marketing. Known for their fearless innovation and commitment to inclusion, diversity, and equity, GPJ’s work is grounded in collaboration and the transformative power of human engagement.

To celebrate the partnership and reflect the shared values of both brands, I created a custom art piece inspired by GPJ’s pillars. The design depicted a globe formed from puzzle pieces, surrounded by multiple hands — a metaphor for inclusion, diversity, and teamwork. The puzzle symbolized vision and connection, while the hands emphasized the belief that great experiences are built together. At the center, I integrated the W San Francisco logo alongside GPJ’s, representing unity and collaboration.

The artwork was laser-carved in wood using Glowforge, creating a frameless, modern presentation piece. To complement the gift, we paired it with a W San Francisco reusable water bottle, underscoring the hotel’s commitment to sustainability as the first LEED-EB Platinum certified building in North America (2015). The bottle carried a note highlighting the property’s leadership in social good and environmental responsibility, and guests were encouraged to refill them at FIT, the hotel’s gym.

This project combined art, sustainability, and partnership storytelling, leaving a memorable impression on both GPJ and W San Francisco’s executive team while setting the stage for future collaborations.

W San Francisco
x
HelmsBriscoe & Humanity United

Partnership Artworks

As part of welcoming two key partner groups — HelmsBriscoe, the global leader in hotel site selection, and Humanity United, a nonprofit committed to cultivating conditions for peace and freedom — I designed and delivered custom art pieces that reflected their missions and values while showcasing W San Francisco’s commitment to meaningful partnerships.

For HelmsBriscoe, led by group leader Michelle Jones, I created an illustration featuring palms as a symbol of sustainability and a puzzle motif representing the organization’s pillars of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The design symbolized how HelmsBriscoe weaves these values into their business and culture, strengthening both their service and their community.

For Humanity United, led by Melissa McLean and her group, I developed a custom piece that reinterpreted their globe-shaped logo with multiple engraved hands in varied layers and cut depths. The engraving suggested a spectrum of colors, reflecting the diversity of humanity and the organization’s mission to advance peace, freedom, and people-powered change.

Both designs were produced as Glowforge-carved amenities, given to each group as memorable keepsakes. The projects aligned with W San Francisco’s brand culture while reinforcing the shared values of inclusion, equity, sustainability, and human connection.

For the 85th birthday of Mr. Liu Quansheng, a loyal W guest, his daughter Mrs. Lee reached out to me in advance, hoping to make the day extra special. Knowing how much he loved both ramen and chocolate cake, I worked with our Food & Beverage team to coordinate a personalized celebration. While the culinary team was able to provide a small cake, I wanted to elevate the experience further to create something unforgettable.

I designed and hand-crafted a custom wooden ramen bowl sculpture, engraved with the W San Francisco logo. The piece was built using layered wood with precision cut lines that allowed it to bend into a rounded bowl shape. On top, I created an intricate design simulating folded ramen noodles, complete with a pair of chopsticks (sourced from Panda Express for their beautiful detail). The final result was a functional art piece that looked like a whimsical ramen bowl box.

The chocolate cake was presented alongside the wooden ramen bowl, combining both his favorite foods into a thoughtful presentation. When Mr. Liu received the gift, he believed the ramen bowl was a special container with a surprise inside — opening it with delight before realizing it was a handcrafted keepsake. His daughter later shared her gratitude, saying the experience far exceeded her expectations and left her father deeply moved.

This project exemplified W San Francisco’s promise to go above and beyond for our guests by creating truly personalized WOW Moments. It also resulted in a glowing review on TripAdvisor and Marriott’s website, strengthening both guest loyalty and the brand’s reputation for creativity and care.

W San Francisco

Custom Ramen Bowl Gift for Mr. Liu Quansheng’s 85th Birthday

For the 40th birthday of a valued VIP guest, W San Francisco wanted to create a surprise that felt both personal and memorable. Working with our Connector and the Food & Beverage team, I designed a special celebration that combined culinary and artistic touches.

I created a custom portrait of the guest, capturing his smile and personality in a fine art illustration. The portrait was placed in his room alongside a specially ordered birthday cake from our pastry kitchen, making the experience a truly one-of-a-kind surprise.

This celebration was especially significant because the guest was part of a highly valuable group contract that brought substantial revenue to the property through the volume of guests and services booked. As such, the portrait served as both a complimentary gesture of appreciation and a reflection of W San Francisco’s commitment to strengthening relationships with our most important partners.

The gift stood out not only because it celebrated a milestone birthday, but also because it was the first time the guest had ever received a portrait of himself. The gesture was deeply meaningful, reinforcing the hotel’s promise to create unforgettable WOW Moments while also supporting successful business partnerships.

W San Francisco – Fine Art Birthday Portrait

To celebrate the return of Lil Jon (Jonathan Smith) — platinum-selling rapper, producer, and pioneer of the hip-hop subgenre Crunk — to W San Francisco, I created a custom vinyl record design as a personalized welcome gift. Lil Jon has long favored W San Francisco over other properties, and this gift served as both a commemoration of his visits and a symbol of the hotel’s connection to music and culture.

The vinyl was crafted from wood and engraved using the Glowforge machine, combining artistry with modern fabrication. One side featured my original W San Francisco building illustration (a piece first created upon my hiring and since used for VIP merchandise), paired with Lil Jon’s signature and a message of welcome. The piece was designed not only as a decorative keepsake but also as a playable disc that could be placed on a turntable — a nod to his identity as a groundbreaking recording artist.

This project reinforced W San Francisco’s bold, artistic brand while giving Lil Jon a unique piece of memorabilia that connected his musical legacy to the hotel’s creative culture.

W San Francisco x Lil Jon

Custom Vinyl Gift

Commissioned digital painting created for the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront Hotel. This artwork was designed to reflect the newly remodeled look of the Flight View Lounge, incorporating specific color palettes, design themes, and brand identity. Tailored to the client’s vision, the piece served as a branded art installation that captured the lounge’s refreshed aesthetic and the unique atmosphere of the early morning view. The finished painting is currently on display in the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront lobby.

Flight 101 Lounge – 6 AM Morning View

Created during a marketing-focused apprenticeship led by former SFO Airport Manager Alex Barnacle, this project involved designing a custom propaganda-style poster for Cathay Pacific Airways. The artwork reflected the airline’s brand identity, incorporating its signature color palette and visual motifs inspired by its Hong Kong home base. The piece was intended to creatively promote the airline while maintaining visual consistency with its global image, blending bold design with brand storytelling.

Cathay Pacific Airways Custom Propaganda Poster

Commissioned digital artwork created for the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront Hotel. Inspired by the hotel’s renovated interior design and brand vision, this piece was developed under the direction of former Director Ali Lahip to bring a festive yet elegant atmosphere to the lobby during the holiday season. The illustration required a thoughtful blend of seasonal warmth and visual harmony to reflect the hotel’s style and create a sense of home for traveling guests. Initially envisioned as a drawing to guide the lobby’s Christmas décor plan, the work was so well received that it was later finalized as a displayed artwork in the hotel lobby.

A View of Christmas by the M Club

A collection of branded brochures, guides, and guest-facing materials created in Adobe InDesign. These include monthly Insider Guides, personalized VIP communications, destination brochures, and special branded announcements designed to enhance guest experience and engagement.