The Artist Behind the Brand: Meet Rhiannon
Art Director & De Pere Store Clerk
You've seen her work every time you walk into one of our stores. The murals on the walls, the packaging on our products, the posters, the merchandise — the visual identity that makes Uncle Mike's look and feel like Uncle Mike's. All of it flows through one person: Rhiannon, our Art Director.
She's been with us for nearly six years, and her story is one of those that feels like it was meant to happen.
From Barista to Brand Builder
Rhiannon spent her high school and college years making coffee at a local Starbucks — learning, as it turns out, a lot about what people want and how they experience a brand up close. After graduating in 2020 with a Fine Art degree, she started looking for a role that would let her put her education to work.
"Many of the classes I took were related to graphic design," she says. "So when a part-time position opened at Uncle Mike's as a Label Printer/Designer, it felt like the perfect fit. I applied immediately."
She was offered a full-time role on the spot — splitting her time between the design studio and the counter at our De Pere store. That dual role, as it turns out, would shape everything about how she works.
The Label that started it all
Her very first project was a label for Uncle Mike's World's Best Carrot Cake. Working alongside owners Mike and Nathan, she developed a design that became the foundation for much of what you see on our packaged products today.
"My goal is for every design to have a clean, simple style that catches your eye when walking in our stores."
That philosophy has guided her work ever since. And while the brand has evolved over six years, many of the design principles from that very first carrot cake label still echo through Uncle Mike's today.
Designing a label involves more than most people might imagine. "We consider the product itself and how it is packaged," Rhiannon explains. "The label needs to fit the packaging correctly while still allowing space for ingredients, nutrition facts, and other necessary information. From there, I think about how the label can stay true to our branding while still feeling unique to that specific product."
A Mural and a Memory
If you've visited Uncle Mike's Food Emporium, you've seen Rhiannon's largest work — a sweeping mural that stops people in their tracks. It was the first of three murals she created there, and for her, it carries a meaning that goes far beyond the paint on the wall.
A few weeks before she began, her grandmother passed away. The two had been very close, and her grandmother had been eagerly anticipating the project — asking Rhiannon regularly when she was going to start.
In memory of her, Rhiannon painted a slice of Uncle Mike's cherry pie into the mural — the same flavor her grandmother had requested for her last birthday. Rhiannon still has a photo of her smiling with that pie. Every time she sees the mural, she sees her.
"Having such a huge canvas was both intimidating and exciting," she says. "Seeing my artwork displayed on that scale felt like an incredible accomplishment." It's an understatement, to say the least.
Why working the counter makes her a better designer
Ask Rhiannon what it's like to go from designing packaging to handing it directly to a customer, and she'll tell you it's one of the most valuable parts of her job.
"Being on the sales floor allows me to hear customer feedback firsthand — whether it's a typo, readability issue, or something that could improve the customer's experience. Those conversations help me make better design decisions."
Over nearly six years at the De Pere store, she's also built real relationships with the regulars. "I've built relationships with many familiar faces who truly make each workday special." That's the Uncle Mike's way — and Rhiannon lives it from both sides of the counter.
And her favorite Kringle?
Rhiannon is torn between Caramel Apple and Almond — and honestly, we respect it. "We truly have the best caramel!" she says. For seasonal flavors, Pumpkin Cream Cheese takes the top spot without hesitation.
Outside the Bakery
When Rhiannon isn't designing or working the De Pere counter, you'll likely find her outdoors — fishing, camping, or spending time with her husband and family. Her personal artwork focuses on family memories, old photographs, pets, and nature. She's a mixed media artist at heart, working in oils, acrylics, watercolor, and more recently, gouache.
She's also no stranger to recognition. Growing up, she regularly entered gallery competitions and sold pieces through Art Street in Green Bay for several years — including the year she received the Mary Ann Carter Award. She still takes on commissioned work today, from pet portraits to landscapes, and continues entering gallery shows when the opportunity arises.
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Next time you're in one of our stores, take a moment to look around. The murals, the packaging, the little details that make it feel like home — that's Rhiannon. And if you stop into De Pere, there's a good chance you'll meet her in person. She'll be the one behind the counter who already knows your order.
Thanks for being the heart of Uncle Mike's, Rhiannon. We're lucky to have you.
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