Case Studies
Celeste Duquesne: Make-up Artist
Video Production + Editing, Logo + Identity, Website
International make-up artist Celeste Duquesne applies make-up to a model.
Celeste Duquesne is a first-class international makeup artist. Bitten by the acting bug at the tender age of eight, Celeste Duquesne was sure she had the talent to make it on stage. What she did not anticipate was falling in love with a decidedly off-stage pursuit: makeup artistry. Celeste — a San Diego, California native of Argentinean descent who now travels the world plying her craft as a top makeup artiste — has worked with an elite and beautiful clientele including Paris Hilton, Will Ferrell, Wanda Sykes, Chris Rock, Natasha Bedingfield and Claire Danes.
Celeste credits her own experience in the limelight for helping her to become as sought-after in Hollywood as she is in New York, London and Paris. In Spring of 2009, Celeste was ready to take her business to the next level. Enter SKAGGS.
THE IDENTITY
“Celeste’s Argentinean roots were the inspiration for the powder blue color used in the logo and stationery. We used a warm red to add a splash of color; it’s reminiscent of a bold, vibrant shade of lipstick. The beige used on the website helps maintain a natural feel, like a soft blush of powder foundation.”
—Jonina Skaggs, Art Director
We used a floral element to give visual texture to the business card and stationery. The result is an identity that fully reflects Celeste’s heritage, personality and craft.
Graceful, classic, elegant: we designed Celeste Duquesne’s logo and identity to match her aesthetic principles.
A behind-the-scenes photograph of Celeste Duquesne being interviewed by Samantha Edwards.
Celeste’s business cards and letterhead.
THE WEBSITE
Simple, contemporary, concise: three phrases that communicate how information is conveyed on the website. Using a graceful “large type format” navigation, users can browse the site and Celeste’s clientele with ease.
The website serves as a portal for potential clients to explore Celeste Duquesne’s craft.
Floral elements reflect the grace and femininity of Celeste’s work.
“It’s often really hard to convey just how much work make-up artists do, so we decided to shoot a video and have it as a main feature on the homepage. The video position serves as the anchor for everything else on the site.”
—Bradley Skaggs, Creative Director
Bradley Skaggs, the man behind the camera.
THE VIDEO
Celeste had worked with Sophie Theallet, the world-famous Parisian fashion designer, on many of her NY Fashion Week runway shows. Spring 2009 was to be no different.
Sam photographs models backstage before the show.
Having trained with Jean-Paul Gaultier and then becoming Azzedine Alaia’s right-hand woman, Sophie Theallet possesses a vast amount of expertise. She’s an incredible designer with an equally amazing presence.
“We felt that the show would be a perfect opportunity to capture Celeste in action and receive the LIVE testimonials from those, including Sophie, that had worked with her in the industry for many years. It was important to Celeste that the testimonials were natural and authentic, as opposed to clichéd one-liners! That’s why we were there to capture it all.”
—Jonina Skaggs, Art Director
Sam and Bradley interview Sophie Theallet.
Organized chaos—just part of what goes into a runway show!
Microphone and camera in hand, Sam, Bradley and Jonina were backstage at the crack of dawn to capture the madness, mayhem and magic of the event.
“It was controlled chaos backstage. This obviously proved for great footage though and the end result was a video which caught the action and the craft. My favorite part was interviewing Sophie. She’s an amazing combination of talent and intellect; a force to be reckoned with!”
—Sam Edwards, Creative Director
Samantha Edwards: SKAGGS’ very own ace reporter! Go-to lady for dishing the inside scoop on New York’s fashionistas.
“The energy backstage was fantastically upbeat, it was like one big family. It was also great seeing the models posing taking and re-taking pictures of one another for their Facebook profiles. Models — they’re just like us.”
—Sam Edwards, Creative Director
To learn more about Celeste’s work and clients and to view the video, visit Celeste’s website.
