Chocolate Mold Design
Over the years, I’ve developed a variety of chocolate molds for accounts such as Dylan’s Candy Bar, L’Oreal, Moonstruck Chocolate, Hammond’s, Le Belge Chocolatier, and Astor Chocolate. Each mold presents it’s own design and technical challenges. In order to provide the client with a design that meets their vision and to ensure a smooth production process, we follow our proven creative process. It encourages collaboration b/w key stakeholders in marketing, purchasing, and production throughout the design and development of the molds.
In the case of Le Belge Chocolatier, a Napa Valley based company, we redesigned many of the chocolate truffle and bar molds. For the redesign, we looked to modernize the overall look of the molds by drawing inspirations from the surrounding Napa Valley landscape. The molds contribute visually & texturally to the brand story which provides consumers with a transcendent experience built around the prestige of Napa Valley.
INSPIRATION For the design of the truffles, we used organic surface textures and repetitive line work inspired by Napa’s rolling hills and vineyards. These organic patterns are juxtaposed with simple geometric shapes to convey a sense of modernity - a square, a rectangle, a circle, and an organic form representing a cacao pod. The topographic map of Napa Valley applied to the chocolate bar & thins provides a different perspective of the region. From a birds-eye view it serves to both illustrate the natural contours of the Napa Valley region and to present a beautiful abstract & organic pattern. By infusing Napa’s landscape into the design of the molds we’re reinforcing elements of authenticity to tell the brand’s story.
The use of Napa’s natural landscape as the primary inspiration for the molds ties into a much larger movement in the world of luxury design. The influence of natural and organic elements on design is timeless, and the trend continues to evolve. It’s influence pervades every facet of contemporary art & design: fine art & sculpture, fashion, architecture, and home decor. The molds presented us with an opportunity to pay homage to the natural beauty of Napa while connecting the brand with this global design movement.
A lot of research and sketch work goes into the creation of new chocolate molds. It’s an enjoyable part of the process. It’s also a critical step in the process to partner with the client to understand how this new shape ties into the larger strategy. Ensuring the manufacturing team and mold maker are involved as early as possible to provide insights regarding potential technical issues and for advice on best practices is equally important.
