Brody Lyons - Passion Project: Social + Design

A passion project of mine has been in the works since 2018, when I realized just how much I loved 2000s culture. Back then, it wasn’t as widely appreciated, and many people couldn’t quite tell the difference between the 2000s and today. So, I did what the internet does best and found a community of people who shared this interest. I created a 2000s-themed mood board Instagram account, @retro2000s, where I started posting and engaging with other 2000s-focused accounts. Over the years, the account has grown to over 8,000 followers and developed a loyal following. It’s even been cited in multiple articles internationally, solidifying its influence in the 2000s nostalgia movement. In 2020, A highlight of the account occurred when I created the "You Better Vote Bitch" graphic to encourage voter participation. The design went viral during multiple elections, shared by accounts with millions of followers. Looking back, this project not only fueled my passion for design and marketing but also helped shape my career path, blending business marketing and design—an intersection I’m now studying and pursuing professionally. What began as a personal interest in 2000s culture has evolved into a defining part of my creative journey.

Account analytics and currency (as of 27 February 2025).

Articles where @retro2000s has been cited.

Some of the many places the "You Better Vote Bitch" graphic has been reposted.

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Freelance Music-Related Design

Creating designs where art and music come together is my favorite part of being a graphic designer. I've had the opportunity to work with several emerging artists, each bringing their own unique ideas and challenges. In January 2025, Walter Miller gave me full creative control to design promotional materials for his upcoming album, University View. This project was incredibly inspiring, and I’m excited about the possibility of collaborating with him again. My first ventures into album design were for Nicholas Hollywood Tetreault and Brittany Crandol. Seeing my work on major streaming platforms was a surreal and unforgettable moment. That feeling continues to drive my passion as I take on new projects, with more album art releases on the horizon!

I was hired as a freelance photographer in Cedar Grove, NJ for Vue Magazine before I would later end up as their junior designer the following year. I ended up attending two of their luxury events as featured in their magazine! The bottom two are some of my favorites from my ongoing collge portfolio.

Restaurant Rebrand

This is a project I completed seen as a rebrand for a restaurant in my hometown I was sad to see close. I believe branding in every way can modernize a restaurant more than anything. Designed complely by myself, I have featured a social media concept, two double-sided menus, and packaging for takeout customers. I believe this is a great addition to my portfolio as it shows my eye for what is modern, while showcasing design skills very different than some of my other work.

For this piece, I wanted to feature something that displayed my more creative, right brained, and artistic side. For one of my OCC classes, we were encouraged to make self portraits with a scribble pattern incorporated, and I absolutely went for it. This was at a time where I had worked on my own face for so long in the original portrait, and I had grown so sick of my own face. This messy, chaotic piece represents the beauty in the chaos, and I am so proud of it. It is a true outlier in my work, which is typically clean and concise.

Playlist Covers

Drink Brand Creation

For this design, I have created my own soft drink company as an example of my designs used in a very commercial sense. I saw this project as not only a design opportunity, but a marketing one. I created a drink completely from scratch, and designed it based off of my own imagination. Combining retro and modern styles, I created Beat.

Personal Branding

The following is my own personal branding. I have spent so much time perfecting my brand, knowing that as a designer it is so important and representative of my artistry. I created something that I am truly proud of. I made sure to keep it simple, with a pretty strict color scheme and not many varying symbols. Little details like the "r" in Brody and the "L" in Lyons connecting as one transformed my name into not just a name, but a logo.

This is one of the most time-consuming challenging works I have created. I wanted to create a menu remodel for a restaurant, and I took the ultimate challenge by picking a sushi restaurant with an overwhelming abundance of items. I was inspired by the bright, fun colors of 90s Harajuku culture, a perfect match for a youthful, fun Japanese restaurant. I did my best to keep things bright and exciting, without compromising readability and functionality. I ended up pitching this design to Fuji 72, and while it was not the financial decision best for them at the time, it taught me how designing is not only about profit but growth.

Wedding Invitation

I created this project to show diversity in my portfolio. Obviously, I am no stranger to color or excitement in design. I wanted to create something classic, marketable to the masses, sleek and simple.

Self-Portrait Magazine Project

For this project, I wanted to display my skill in Page Layout, attention to detail, and ability to reference already-existing design. This cover is a parody of 2000s tabloids such as Star Magazine, People, or Us Weekly. I had a little bit of fun getting fake paparazzi photos taken as if I was a celebrity, and I completely played with my imagination creating a fake cover for myself. I spent time researching popular fonts and color schemes used in tabloids, and I think this looks spot on to its influences.

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