Daufuskie Coast Pattern Collection
A place-based illustration system capturing Lowcountry island life.
Daufuskie Island sits 1.2 miles from Hilton Head. No bridge. No causeway. If you want to get there, you're taking a ferry.
This pattern collection captures what makes that remoteness matter: weathered cottages, historic landmarks, hand-painted signs, golf carts in the sand, and coastal details that feel earned rather than designed.
The Story
Hilton Head has planned communities and championship golf. Daufuskie has dirt roads, wild horses, 400 year-round residents, and a historic bathtub landmark.
One island is designed for maximum tourist efficiency. The other is a 5,000-acre time capsule that predates "coastal authenticity" as a marketable concept—mostly because it actually is authentic, not performing it.
Daufuskie is defined by its quiet details. Elevated homes weathered by decades of salt air. Oyster cans from local harvests. Bikes leaning against
porches. Marsh grasses and palmetto trees. Handmade directional signs pointing to the rum bar or the ferry dock. The kind of coastal character you can't manufacture because it requires time, isolation, and people who genuinely live there.
This collection translates those everyday elements into a cohesive illustration system—designed for products, packaging, and retail environments while remaining deeply rooted in the character of the place.
What's Inside
Historic Architecture: Elevated cottages, weathered structures, Gullah Geechee homes, the Haig Point Lighthouse, First Union African Baptist Church, historic buildings on stilts
Island Life: Golf carts, bicycles, Adirondack chairs, the SS Scrap Iron bathtub landmark, Island Head Ferry sign, "To the Rum" directional sign, oyster cans, Daufuskie Oysters branding
Coastal Elements: Blue crabs, palmetto trees, marsh grasses, egrets, sea turtles, alligators, sand dollars, shells, sweetgrass baskets
Cultural Details: Historic markers, Sea Island Cotton signage, Gullah Geechee cultural references, handmade wooden signs
Everything hand-drawn with the kind of specificity that makes locals recognize their island immediately. Not generic coastal—actually Daufuskie.
Main Pattern Colorways
Island Sky (Original)
Soft coastal blue. The original colorway—captures the ferry crossing view and open island skies. Perfect for products celebrating Lowcountry living and barrier island culture.
Marsh Grass Gold
Warm golden tan. Reflects the sweetgrass baskets, marsh landscapes, and weathered wood tones of historic island structures. Works for earthy, heritage-focused products and regional retail.
Sunset Dock
Peachy salmon warmth. Captures that late afternoon dock light and oyster shell pink. Great for hospitality products and items targeting relaxed coastal living without being overly tropical.
All three colorways use identical illustration systems with different background treatments, proving the pattern adapts while maintaining Daufuskie's distinct character.
Coordinate Patterns
Ocean Waves
Abstract wave pattern in greens and blues. Works as a companion to the main Daufuskie pattern or standalone for textiles, wallpaper, and products needing coastal movement without specific landmarks.
Scallop Shells
Colorful shell pattern featuring blues, greens, corals, and golds. Complements the main pattern for mix-and-match product lines or coordinates for bedding, table linens, and home décor collections.
These coordinate patterns demonstrate system thinking—how the Daufuskie collection expands beyond a single design into a scalable visual language for multi-product lines and branded environments.
Applications
Currently available on:
Paper bags, pajamas, makeup bags (as shown in mockups)
Custom product development in progress
Designed for:
Hospitality branding (boutique hotels, vacation rentals, island resorts)
Regional tourism products and ferry terminal retail
Lowcountry gift shops and Gullah Geechee cultural centers
Packaging for local food products (oysters, seafood, regional specialties)
Textiles and home décor celebrating barrier island living
Editorial illustration for coastal travel guides and regional publications
Products targeting authentic Lowcountry culture rather than resort aesthetics
The main pattern tiles seamlessly. Individual elements extract cleanly for spot graphics, wayfinding, or product accents. Coordinate patterns work alongside or standalone, creating flexibility for product collections and retail displays.
System Thinking
This isn't a single Daufuskie pattern—it's a visual identity system for a place.
The main pattern establishes the island's character through specific landmarks and cultural details. The coordinate patterns (Ocean Waves, Scallop Shells) provide supporting graphics that work across different scales and applications. Together, they create opportunities for cohesive product lines, mix-and-match collections, and branded retail environments.
System components:
Main Daufuskie pattern (3 colorways)
Ocean Waves coordinate pattern
Scallop Shells coordinate pattern
Individual elements for spot illustrations
This demonstrates how place-based design scales beyond a single product into comprehensive visual systems ready for multi-tier retail strategies and licensed product collections.
Why It Works
Most coastal patterns are generic enough to work anywhere. This one only works for Daufuskie—or for brands wanting to borrow that very specific, ferry-access-required kind of authenticity.
The island's remoteness is its brand. The pattern respects that by focusing on details that can't exist anywhere else: the SS Scrap Iron bathtub, the specific architecture of Gullah Geechee homes, the Island Head Ferry sign, Daufuskie Oysters branding.
Perfect for products and environments celebrating genuine Lowcountry culture, barrier island living, and the kind of coastal character that requires actual commitment to reach.
Part of a Lowcountry pattern series capturing the distinct character of coastal Carolina destinations.
