About
Orion J. Cortez
How We Landed Here
Hand + Fire is a lifestyle brand that embodies the spirit of western living through handmade goods. Founded by Sage Cortez, a potter from Portland, OR, the brand began in 2014 as a response to the need for beautifully crafted home products. From ceramics to hand-spun wool and even woodworking, Hand + Fire captures the artistry and functionality of thoughtfully designed pieces.
To develop an identity for Hand + Fire, I drew inspiration from Oregon’s rural life, particularly the Wallowa Valley, where Sage’s studio is based. Since the brand is rooted in handmade pottery, my challenge was to create a logo system that worked seamlessly across web applications, physical stamp branding, and packaging.
Sage was an incredibly hands-on client with a clear vision, which made collaborating a rewarding process. Drawing from barn quilts, the rolling hills and valleys of Wallowa, and elements of Sage’s existing branding, we created a box-style logo. Using the softness of the Brandon font, combined with a simple ligature feel, the logo symbolizes the Wallowa Valley nestled between the hills—a connection subtly represented by the union of the “h” and “f.”