Oakley Sunglasses

Oakley, founded in 1975 by Jim Jannard with just $300 and named after his dog Oakley Anne, started as a garage project that became one of the world’s most iconic eyewear brands. From the Factory Pilot Eyeshades in 1984 to the lifestyle-defining Frogskins in 1985, Oakley has always pushed bold, innovative designs. For the Artist Series, I translated my painting techniques into digital illustration, layering brushwork into print-ready forms that retain the vibrancy of hand-painted art.

The result fuses Oakley’s heritage of daring innovation with street art and contemporary fashion illustration. Each design features bold contrasts, dual-color frames, and abstract characters, paired with collectible packaging and microbags. This wearable art approach elevates branding, consumer engagement, and positions the sunglasses as both functional accessories and striking artistic objects.

Initial Sketches

Oakley, founded in 1975 by Jim Jannard with just $300 and named after his dog Oakley Anne, began as a small garage project that grew into an iconic eyewear brand. From the Factory Pilot Eyeshades in 1984 to the lifestyle-defining Frogskins in 1985, Oakley has always embraced bold, innovative design. For the Artist Series project, I translated my painting techniques into digital illustration, layering brushwork into print-ready graphic forms that retain the energy and texture of hand-painted work.

The result bridges Oakley’s heritage of sports-driven innovation with contemporary street art and fashion illustration. Each design explores bold contrasts, dual-colour frame concepts, and abstract character artwork, paired with collectible packaging and microbags. This wearable art approach celebrates limited-edition branding, elevates consumer engagement, and positions the sunglasses as both functional accessories and artistic objects.

Hijinx Sunglasses

The sunglasses design features a dual-colour concept, with blue applied to the left leg and red to the right, creating a bold and dynamic contrast inspired by contemporary streetwear and fashion illustration trends. Each colour was symbolically chosen to represent its side of the frame, enhancing both visual identity and brand storytelling. The accompanying sunglasses bag mirrored the box artwork in a repeated graphic pattern, following industry-standard packaging design approaches seen across fashion and lifestyle accessories.

The illustration process began with a hand-drawn sketch on bristol board, inked using a dip pen and Indian ink to capture precise linework and texture. The piece was then scanned and digitally coloured with abstract vector shapes to define form and depth, blending traditional illustration techniques with digital design. This workflow highlights expertise in street art–inspired illustration, vector graphics, and creative product design for fashion, accessories, and branded collaborations.

Oakley Packaging

The colouring technique used abstract white tones layered at varying transparency levels in Adobe Photoshop to create a sense of depth and dimension. By overlapping these transparent layers, the artwork achieved a modern visual effect that merged digital illustration techniques with principles of fine art shading and visual storytelling. This process highlights technical skills in Photoshop, digital layering, and abstract colouring for contemporary design applications.

The submitted design was developed around the concept of transforming painted artwork into a wearable piece of art. The box was intentionally created to serve a dual purpose — both as functional packaging and as an ornamental object worthy of display. This approach aligns with trends in product design, fashion branding, and collectible packaging, where artistic presentation enhances consumer engagement and brand value.

Oakley Microbag

The colouring technique applied abstract white tones at varying transparency levels in Adobe Photoshop, creating layered effects that produced depth and dimensionality. This method combined traditional artistic sensibility with digital illustration workflows, showcasing skills in Photoshop, transparency layering, and abstract colouring for contemporary visual design.

The submitted concept focused on transforming hand-painted artwork into a wearable art piece. The box design was crafted not only as protective packaging but also as a collectible ornamental object, intended to be displayed like a work of art. This approach reflects current trends in fashion branding, product design, and limited-edition packaging, where aesthetics and functionality merge to elevate consumer experience.

Final Product

The colouring technique made use of abstract white tones applied at varying transparency levels in Adobe Photoshop. By layering these translucent shapes, the design built up depth , combining digital illustration workflows with contemporary abstract art principles. This process demonstrates expertise in Photoshop, transparency effects, and digital colour layering to achieve modern visual storytelling.

The final design centred on the concept of wearable art, translating hand-painted work into a product that was both functional and collectible. The box was intentionally created as an ornamental object, designed to be displayed as part of home décor or a curated collection. This approach reflects trends in fashion branding, product packaging, and limited-edition design, where artistry and functionality intersect to elevate brand perception and consumer engagement.

© MMXXVI  Rory J. Murphy | All rights reserved.