The Big Kahuna

Wells Fargo The Big Kahuna Event
Industry: Corporate Events

The Challenge

This one takes me back. Early in my time at Wells Fargo, a fun project landed on my desk and I jumped at the opportunity. It came from Wholesale Banking, a line of business known for its unique and offbeat creative requests. Each year, they hosted an exclusive event to honor top clients, with a new theme each time. That year? A tiki-inspired celebration called “The Big Kahuna.”

My task was to design the event logos—bold and illustrative marks that captured the playful energy of the theme while still feeling polished and elevated enough for a corporate audience. The direction leaned into retro Polynesian pop—lush, moody, and full of character.

The Solution

I created two fully illustrated event logos that leaned all the way into the tiki aesthetic—bold, character-rich, and packed with personality. Despite their playful tone, they still felt thoughtful and well-crafted, and looking back, I’m proud of how different they are from the rest of my body of work.

From there, I expanded the system into a rich, sophisticated dark theme—a striking contrast against the light, neutral event space, which featured mostly white and tan surfaces. The palette played beautifully with the environment, adding a layer of polish that elevated the experience. Paired with cheeky copy and an illustrated design system, it struck a balance that felt both unexpected and just right.

Even years later, this remains one of my favorite early projects—a reminder that even the smallest deliverables can leave a lasting impression when you go all in.

Contributors

Creative Direction: Kirsten Stewart
Art Direction: Brian Wood
Writing: Jim Stephens
Design: Harrison Washuta