Sel Gerosa Design

Author: sel gerosa

  • Pet Sitter Business Card Design

    Pet Sitter Business Card Design

    1. Pawsitive Pet Sitting

    Amanda is a seasoned pet sitter, groomer, and animal care specialist. As she transitioned to a new role as a groomer in a cat hotel, she wanted to improve her physical marketing with a new business card to continue booking new pet sitting clients.

    I designed a custom business card layout inspired by Amanda’s preference for modern and sleek design. We wanted to keep the design clean and professional, rather than the kitschy, maximalist design that’s common in set service spaces. We settled on a design with a custom illustrated pattern featuring cats, dogs, bunnies, and lizards to illustrate Amanda’s experience with all pets, not just cats & dogs.

    pet sitter business card typography

    Project Type

    pet sitter business card

    Amanda Cantú

    Pet Sitter

    These business cards are absolutely incredible! Sel totally nailed it and went above and beyond. Seriously thank you so, SO much. I am blown away by Sel’s talent and how much this helped me out. Sel is the Best!

  • Label Illustration for Buttonwoods Brewery

    Label Illustration for Buttonwoods Brewery

    1. Beer Label Design with Q&B RI

    Queers & Beers of Rhode Island is an LGBT community group based in Rhode Island. They organize local events like movie nights and yoga, as well as the occasional collaboration with a local brewery. For 2025 Pride Month, they partnered with Buttonwoods Brewery to hold a charity label design contest. Proceeds from the contest and beer sales were donated to Haus of Codec, a RI-based LGBT youth transitional housing group. The theme of the beer, a fruited kolsch, was ‘fruit stand.’ My design was selected as the winner! I was inspired by the diversity of produce found at farmer’s markets and illustrated a table of different smiling fruit. Since the beer has notes of watermelon and blueberries, I centered those fruit in the design.

    Project Type

  • Hero Graphic Design for xScion Consulting

    Hero Graphic Design for xScion Consulting

    1. xScion Turns Change to Value

    xScion is a consulting group that focuses on recommending sustainable changes that bring value to their customers. Whether they are working on change management, technology integrations, or business agility, they have expertise in maintaining regulatory compliance. I joined their marketing team to make strategic improvements to their messaging, starting with their home page. They needed improved messaging to clearly communicate their business’s premium service and how they truly create lasting value for their customers.

    Project Type

    Left ImageRight Image

    2. Home Page Hero Design

    First impressions are everything. The first section of a business’s website is that first impression. It has two critical roles: to quickly communicate the product or service they provide and to be eye-catching enough to engage a user to continue exploring the website. The older version of their intro section was too general and too generic. It didn’t specifically communicate their service offerings and relied on stock graphics for their imagery. We needed to take a more tailored approach, bringing in custom imagery and more fine-tuned copy.

    3. Grabbing the Eye with Animation

    xScion doesn’t win its business by being the cheapest in the market. Their value is their commitment to creating tangible value and sustainable, lasting change. I started by implementing a typing plugin that cycles through common client questions. I also expanded the byline to list their services and value add. The headlines and byline are flexible so that they can be adjusted over time as their offerings shift to meet their customer’s needs.

    The visuals need to support and strengthen the messaging. There’s nothing wrong with using stock images (when they’re used strategically). But using stock graphics for their website’s hero section doesn’t parallel their personalized message. I illustrated and animated a maze graphic to convey the way they help customers navigate the complexities of regulatory compliance. I also implemented the design on their WordPress website including designing the layout, tuning responsiveness, and adding the animation as Lottie file.

  • 5 Things I Learned From Buying a Boat

    5 Things I Learned From Buying a Boat

    So, we bought a boat

    In the fall of 2023, my partner, Ian, had just gotten a job in southern Rhode Island and we were getting ready to officially move in together. But as we looked towards the summer, we had a problem. Southern RI is a very touristy area in the summer and so most of the winter rentals became summer homes or AirBnBs in the peak season. This left us very few options, and even less affordable options. So we had to get creative.

    Now, we had casually talked about living on a boat in the way couples usually daydream about life. Wouldn’t it be cool and fun and different? After spending time in London, I was enamored with the idea living on a canal boat. Ian is a lifelong sailor and oceanographer and spends a lot of his working time on boats. We’re both chronic Facebook marketplace window shoppers and started looking at boats in the area. Then, we heard that a family friend was selling his sailboat. This particular boat, Ian had been sailing on since he was a kid. Suddenly, the idea became more real.

    Ian on our boat, more than two decades before we bought it!
    sel and Ian sailing the boat

    1. Get your ducks in a row

    Before we could commit to buying the boat, we had to figure out the logistics.

    We needed to know:

    • could we afford it?
    • could we get it ready in time?
    • where would we put it?
    • could we pull this off?

    There are a million what if’s and what could be’s. There’s a million reasons to say no. But, we knew we could figure it out. We said yes.

    2. If you want it, you have to work for it

    We were lucky enough to find a marina with an open slip in a town that was perfect for us. Not too far from work and not too far from our families. Plus, a grocery store we could bike to and one of the best sandwich shops in the country.

    At the same time, we had to look at our prospective boat. We spent a day thoroughly examining the ins and outs of the boat. There was a laundry list of cleaning and repairs to make it ready to live-aboard. We knew that beyond the money, there was a larger cost in the form of sweat equity. And all of our weekends. We knew it wouldn’t be easy. But aren’t the things that you need to work for worth it the most?

    the repairs list
    • deep cleaning and de-mildewing
    • repair and seal multiple seacocks
    • replace the headliners
    • re-caulk the whole deck
    • cetol and varnish exposed wood
    • replace the broken fridge
    • wire electrical with new lines and outlets
    • replace plumbing lines
    • hook up hot water tank
    • install composing toilet
    • replace bilge pumps and batteries

    The Repair Process

    view of sailboat with dog
    Gus says “I approve”
    sel posing in goggles and gloves
    Getting dirty + making things clean 🧼
    person removing boat cabin ceiling
    Removing the old headliners (thank you dad!)
    Ian measuring headliner board
    Cutting new headliner
    person cleaning caulk out of deck seams
    Reefing out the old caulk
    person caulking sailboat deck
    Caulking it up
    person sanding sailboat deck
    Sanding down the new caulk
    sailboat deck
    Hoo baby that deck’s a beauty 👌
    people raising sailboat mast
    Inspecting the mast (thank you Ian’s dad!)
    sel in a hatch of the boat cockpit
    hehehe I’m stowing away (+ screwing on stanchions)
    person installing power outlet on boat
    Powering up! (adding outlets)
    person turning on oven in boat cabin
    Fuel lines are working!
    sailboat on truck bed leaving the barn
    She’s leaving the barn!!!
    sel steering the sailboat
    The inaugural sail! 🏴‍☠️
    the sailboat at its slip
    Our new home 🙂
    three people and a dog in a boat cockpit
    2 people and a dog smiling on a boat
    two people smiling on a boat

    3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

    We could never have done this by ourselves. I just want to take a second to thank our family and friends for their support, both emotionally and in lending us a hand. Especially, I want to thank Wayne, for not only selling us the boat, but allowing us to work on it in his barn and use some of his tools. Also, a big thank you to Ian’s dad who did some really critical plumbing and wiring. Finally, thank you to Ian for building a fun and interesting life with me.

    Also, thank you to our headlamps and kneepads. They were the truly most valuable tools in making these repairs possible.

    4. Go touch grass

    People love to say it, but hate that it’s true. Going outside and connecting with nature is so fulfilling for your body and soul. I love to sit and watch the different animals that live in our bay and getting to know the native species in the area. By far, the critters I admire the most are the waterfowl. We have — loons, swallows, seagulls, osprey, egrets, and all sorts of ducks. It’s hard to pick a fave between hooded mergansers and buffleheads… Observing the tide as it ebbs and flows, watch the animals in the bay change throughout the season, noticing the wind direction, and watching sunsets all center me in my body and make me feel more connected to this planet we all live on.

    watercolor painting of two swallows on a boat's boom
    Swallows at Sunset, one of my watercolors
    Ian steering a boat while sel draws

    5. Say yes to things (and keep saying yes)

    The journey was not easy. From buying the boat in the beginning of February to launching in the beginning of June, we constantly had to work on the boat. Every weekend and many week-nights after work, we had to work on the boat. It’s easy to say yes at the start. But weeks of hands-and-knees work meticulously scraping and sanding and scrubbing will have you asking yourself if it’s still worth it. And over and over, the answer was yes.

    Even the goal we were working towards was a leap of faith. It might sound obvious, but living on a boat is not the same as living in a house. Some things work differently. But things being different isn’t bad. And aside from leaving the hatch open during a rainstorm once, basically everything worked out.

    More than anything else, this journey reaffirmed that it’s good to say yes. Life is full of twists and turns and sometimes things come up that you would never expect. And sometimes, it turns out to be something you love.

    sailboat and dingy at the dock
  • Packaging Design and Graphic Production for Hasbro

    Packaging Design and Graphic Production for Hasbro

    1. Packaging Design for Iconic Brands

    Hasbro is a leading toy and game company whose mission is to entertain and connect fans through the joy of play. I joined their games team as a packaging designer, working on iconic brands like Monopoly, Candyland, Trivial Pursuit, and more! My role was primarily to enhance my team’s efficiency by providing production and quality assurance support. I jumped in at the start of new projects with packaging/game board layout mockups and pitch deck slides. And at the tail end of a game’s production, I assisted with file preparation hand-off to manufacturers, ensuring files were well organized, formatted properly, and adhering to brand values such as matching Pantone colors.

    Most of my work was internal to the team, but I did support the games below with layout and production assistance. For example, I composed the background pattern and designed the layout for the snake across each game component and packaging of Monopoly Lunar New Year. And on Candy Land Bluey, I worked with the narrative designer to design the layout for the instructions. On both games, I prepared the files for production and worked through and quality assurance issues that popped up pre-production.

    hasbro games logo

    Project Type

    monopoly lunar new year, year of the snake, game packaging designer
    candy land bluey game layout, game packaging designer
    monopoly classic

    2. Monopoly Brand Guide Development

    Monopoly may be over 90 years old, but it’s still a beloved game for millions of children and parents alike. The brand has been updated over the years and in 2025, it was ripe for a new refresh. I worked closely with the creative director to develop a series of brand and packaging guides reflecting the updated brand standards. Each guide and toolkit served a specific purpose, such as branding with a co-licensor, licensing out the Monopoly brand to external vendors, and retail displays. In addition to generating the presentation decks for each toolkit, I created highly organized file folders with templates and assets for easy access.

    Kathleen Murray

    Creative Director, Monopoly & Global Games

    I absolutely recommend Sel for their great work as a packaging designer. They quickly adapted to internal workflows and were able to effectively collaborate with team members at every stage of game productions— from initial pitch decks to final handoff to manufacturers. We worked closely together to develop and update multiple brand guides for an iconic game brand. Their attention to detail and quick turnarounds improved our efficiency and enabled our team to accomplish increased output. I would gladly work with Sel again, their expertise and positive attitude would be an asset to any project.

  • Website Refresh for Galoop Classes

    Website Refresh for Galoop Classes

    1. From Tadpoles to Scholars at Galoop Classes

    Galoop is a warm, welcoming space where growth, play, and learning happen together. They host classes for children ages 6 months-4 years with their caregivers. Their unique program offers flexible schedules, diverse education and enrichment activities, bilingual story-times, and childhood development expert-backed care. Galoop’s founder, Cecilia, came to me because their website experience did not truly reflect their values and how much fun they are!

    galoop logo

    Project Type

    Galoop homepage and mobile display designed with Wix
    Left ImageRight Image

    2. Wix Website Design for Early Education

    After discussing with their founder, Cecilia Matson, we identified a few focus targets for the refresh:

    1. Make the website more fun– Their old website was very minimal. On first glance, you might think they were a B2B company, not a children’s space. We needed to create a more fun and lively experience. I updated their typography, created colorful page layouts, and added some playful touches like section dividers and custom background patterns.
    2. Streamline the user experience– The main users for the Galoop website is busy parents booking on their phone. But the signup process was not intuitive. I made registration easier with improved forms and clearer language. I also tuned the page layouts to improve readability and ensure the site was fully accessible.
    3. Improve their page rank– While they knew some SEO basics, they needed some help tuning their pages. I added analytics tools and implemented better SEO practices.
    Explore the Website

    3. Icon Set + Social Graphics

    This website refresh needed a fun visual touch to pull everything together. Pulling inspiration from their cute jumping frog logo, I illustrated 40+ custom icons that appear across the website. This library of icons can be used for social media and marketing. To complete their launch, I created a bunch of easy-to-use Canva templates. Now, they have the tools for future program announcements, activity spotlights, and testimonials.

    three frog illustrations
    jungle animal illustrations, toucan, sloth, monkey, koala
    children themed icons, playground, family, hugging child
    toy themed icons, building blocks, truck, books, clock

    Cecilia Matson

    Galoop Owner/Director

    Working with Sel to redesign my business website has been a truly fantastic experience. Their creativity, clear communication, openness to feedback, and responsiveness set them apart. Having worked with website designers before, my experience with Sel was the best by far! They consistently delivered ahead of deadlines and took great care to enhance our SEO and online presence. The new website is not only beautiful but also engaging and easy to navigate. The custom icon images they created are absolutely adorable and add a unique touch. Thanks to Sel, our website not only looks amazing but performs better than ever. I highly recommend their expertise!

  • Getting Crafty at Craft Night

    Getting Crafty at Craft Night

    Why Craft Night?

    After months of isolation during pandemic quarantines and working exclusively on remote digital projects alone in my bedroom, I was feeling burned out, missing my community, and making art for myself. I always held a deep love for all types of artistry, and I love to try my hand at new crafts. I knew I needed to create a habit in my schedule that so there would be regular weekly time dedicated to non-commercial creativity. So, I decided to start hosting a craft night.

    My goal was to create an accessible space for folks of all skill levels from seasoned professionals to those who hesitate to call themselves artists. I especially focus on crafts that you might have done in the kitchen as a child, like potato stamps and shrinky-dinks. I also started coordinating field trips for some historical inspiration and museum sketching. And when I’m traveling, I host virtual craft nights, where we can all be creative on a video share.

    Some of Our Amazing Creations

    Homework Week 8: Sandwiches

    Homeworks

    (optional)

    I wanted to create more spaces to invite folks to participate in craft night, even if they aren’t local, so I started assigning homework. Every week, I post a homework prompt, meant to inspire participants to find some time in their week to be creative. They’re completely optional and designed to be completed in under an hour, to help alleviate any residual homework trauma from grade school.

    If you’d like to join in on my virtual craft nights or homework assignments, shoot me a DM on Instagram.

  • Website Launch and Marketing Support for Visual Intelligence Software

    Website Launch and Marketing Support for Visual Intelligence Software

    1. Innovating Visual Intelligence Support: EyesOnIt

    EyesOnIt is a SaaS company that empowers organizations to gain control of their operations through robust situational awareness. Spun out from Mosaic ATM‘s Software division, they needed a new SaaS website design and marketing support to launch their software service.

    eyesonit logo

    Project Type

    2. SaaS Website Development

    EyesOnIt is a fledgling service, so it needed compelling visuals to compensate for its still-developing portfolio. I developed a modern and engaging aesthetic that stands apart from competitor SaaS website development. I created custom illustrations using a clean and modern style to communicate their target product offerings effectively. The site clearly describes target use cases in multiple industries and effectively outlines their integration process. I also edited a video that highlights their railroad safety use case.

    eyesonit website cap, saas website design
    eyesonit website cap, saas website development

    2. Digital Marketing

    To round out EyesOnIt’s web presence, I generated assets that can be used for organic marketing campaigns via social media and Google ad campaigns. I created compelling visuals by pulling assets from the website as well as harnessing stock images.