Barista Buddy: Curated Subscription Kit
Class Project
Project: For this project, I was tasked with creating a curated subscription kit that helps a consumer do something practical.
Key Research Insights: Coffee subscription kits exist, but often only contain various coffee blends. There is an opportunity in the market to create a subscription kit for gourmet coffee drinks. Starting this project during the COVID-19 crisis, I had greater understanding of the struggles of small businesses in gaining traction from a wider audience.
Big idea: A curated subscription kit that teaches the consumer how to make gourmet coffee drinks from the comfort of their kitchen
Solution: In order to differentiate from other coffee subscription kits, Barista Buddy is focused on gourmet coffee drinks. In addition, with the timing of this project, I wanted to challenge myself to incorporate a focus on supporting small businesses. Thus, each month, the box will provide tools and ingredients to recreate a gourmet coffee drink of choice from a specific small, independent coffee shop, benefiting the promotional efforts of the cafe. By subscribing to Barista Buddy, not only will the consumer learn basic barista skills, but will also discover and support small businesses.
Touch points:
Logo: I opted to hand-draw the logo for Barista Buddy in order to have maximum control over the fit of the letters in the coffee bean, and to create a playful, imperfect vibe to the brand.
In terms of the branding across products featured in the box, I chose to use a welcoming, pastel palette, and playful hand-drawn iconography featured in different patterns on each packaging.
Box
Coffee Pouch: The coffee pouch was a challenge because I needed to find a way to use Barista Buddy branding, while still allowing for the independent coffee shop to be featured. I chose to do so by using the design style of the other products, but allotting for a space in the center of the pouch where the logo of the coffee brand could be placed.
Merchandise (Coasters, mugs, etc.)
Brochure: The brochure is intentionally brief to communicate the ease of creating each month’s featured drink. The brochure will feature a list of what is included in the box, an informative section regarding the partnered cafe, and a step-by-step tutorial of how to make the drink of choice.
*Albert’s Cafe in not a real cafe and was created for the purpose of this project
Methods/Programs Used: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign Hand Illustration