You may have noticed a slick new design at DOMA this season — a coyote skiing with an orange bandana through a powdery wonderland is the emblem of our limited-edition Winter Wonderland coffee, a Costa Rica + Ethiopia blend. It’s time you met the artist behind the label, Em Deane Kelley.
Em’s whimsical art has deep thoughts embedded in its design. About nature, our connection with the outdoors, and how play and responsibility go hand in hand. For Em, this is about seeing ourselves as a part of the landscape, rather than separate from it, and recognizing the need to protect it, personified in the coyote. Growing up in small-town Maine as a skier, Em also wanted to capture the sense of wonder that can be found when tucked into the mountains on a snowy day.
Now based in Truckee, Calif., Em knew she had to stick close to the mountains and small towns she loved to inspire her art. Outdoors conservation is a big goal of the work Em creates, and she partners with companies chasing after the same good, like Protect Our Winters (POW).
“Working alongside so many talented athletes, artists, scientists and advocates fuels me to be a steward to the environment on my best and even my worst days,” says Em. “I am forever grateful for #teampow and to work with brands like DOMA who share the same values and support such an important cause.”
For this coffee label, Em applied layers of design to create a playful winter scene. “Having the opportunity to collaborate with DOMA and have true creative freedom pushed me to explore something a bit different, style-wise,” she says. “I typically create simple and bold designs, while this one was very organic, loose and free-flowing.” The secondary elements of the chickadee and cabin are bridges for Em for where she grew up and where she now calls home.
We’re stoked to work with Em, who will be DOMA’s first year-round selected artist. Em will design three custom coffee art projects into 2025, which will include Rite of Spring and Summer Lovin’.
Em’s daily way to brew DOMA coffee is via Chemex, but her favorite way to enjoy DOMA is on pour-over from the comfort of a campsite somewhere in the woods. Check out more of Em’s work at https://localscreative.com.
Cheers to Holly Shankland for the photos of Em!