Watermark Design

Watermark Design is a boutique branding and package design studio in Charlottesville, Virginia, founded in 2007 by Darcey Lacy. It began with wine and expanded into craft beer and spirits, creating logos, labels and packaging for producers across the United States who need their products to stand out on the shelf.

The studio keeps branding, packaging and illustration under one roof so that every component of a project stays cohesive and designers know the history of each element. According to its website, the team considers sales and long-term brand strategy alongside aesthetics, aiming to improve shelf presence and persuade buyers to choose a product before they know the brand. It draws on a database of resources, vendors and production processes, and has experience navigating government label approvals for alcohol products.

• Branding: brand identity systems and logo design
• Packaging: package and label design for wine, beer and spirits
• Illustration: custom illustration and hand-lettering
• Layout design: publication and layout work, including for universities and non-beverage clients
• Digital extras: website design, menu design, animation and emerging tools such as AI

Named projects include Motherwell Distilling Co. (bourbon branding and packaging), Henceforth Brewery and Wine Bar in Washington, DC (brand identity, menu design and website), and Dogged Vine, a Los Olivos winery (package design and brand identity). Client testimonials on the site come from Crescent Simples and Back Unturned Brewing Co. in San Antonio, Texas.

The team, according to its website, is led by Darcey Lacy as Founder and Creative Director and includes Account Director Sue Cox, Art Director Lindsay Petschauer, Lead Graphic Designer Rebekah Seiler, Senior Graphic Designer Rebecca Miller and Graphic Designer Makaela Johansen. The studio reports awards between 2022 and 2024 from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (Gold in 2022, Silver in 2024), Harpers Wine and Spirit, The Spirits Business Global Spirits Design Masters, PRINT (First Place in 2023), World Brand Design Awards, GDUSA Package Design Awards, with Pentawards and Communication Arts shortlists in 2023. Press coverage cited includes The Dieline, Craft Brewing Business, Package Design magazine and HOW.