MAMA’S METAL SMITHING

Fall, 2023



Lupe Vill is a Metal Smith in Boise, Idaho. The name of the business, Mama’s Metal Smithing, is in homage to Lupe's grandmother whom she called Mama, who who once operated a Nopales business in Mexico City. At the beginning of the process, Lupe wanted a Nopales as the logo mark. I showed her a few iterations with the Cactus as a logo but also made an iteration of a mark that depicted fire in the shape of an M, referencing fire as a key component to metal smithing and connecting it to the “m” of “mama’s.”

The mark also takes visual components inspired by graphic trends in the motorcycle and skate world, two communities of which Lupe is a part. The resulting rings and jewelry, born from Lupe's meticulous metalsmithing practice, exude elegance and beauty. Yet, it's important to recognize that the craft itself is hands-on, physically demanding, and occasionally hazardous.

The logo intentionally captures this essence of Lupe's practice, reflecting the grit and intensity involved in her creative process. It taps into the different communities she is a part of which add to her identity, and It pays homage to her Mama Rufi through the name of Lupe’s brand.