About
Orion J. Cortez
ELOTEROS
is a celebration of my Latino heritage. Created in collaboration with my friend and fellow designer, Toni Morales, we developed an impromptu brand to "sell" elote (Mexican street corn). This ambitious project encompassed everything from typography and handout design, to space and experience curation, outfit creation, and even hand-painted signage.We worked side by side on every detail, crafting a project that felt like a genuine company, which we showcased it in the middle of a design event at Wieden + Kennedy.
And it worked.
Visitors approached our booth asking about the origins of our "business," completely unaware that it was a creative exercise. Eloteros became more than a design project—it was a testament to the power of storytelling and immersive branding.
The Process
Toni and I put together the whole package: a full stand, takeaway stickers, branded candy bags, business cards, shirts, and even a custom napkin stamp to tie it all together. Everything was designed to create a cohesive, branded feel. And, of course, the most important part—the corn.
The biggest lift was getting my cutting robot, printer, dye vats and stand paint all moving in the right direction in a limited 2 week window. Pushing this whole concept to completion was a feat and a half, but once on the same page, Toni and I moved swiftly.