Ringling College of Art + Design — March 2017
Our task for this project was to rebrand a business of our choice. I've found that no matter where I am, I'm always missing my home of New Jersey, and a place that has become a favorite over the years.
The Delran Coffee Shop is a small, locally-owned business that serves great coffee and breakfast platters, with a nice atmosphere and the friendliest staff around. Being a small business, they didn't have much in the way of branding, so they were a perfect choice to take on for this project and essentially rebrand them from the ground up, using colors, fonts, and elements that bring out that "homey" feeling of a local business, as well as motifs that fit the surrounding area.
Being that I was giving the Delran Coffee Shop entirely new branding, I had some things to consider to help guide my aesthetic direction. The surrounding area has lots of trees, and the building itself is a small, simple one-story building with white panel siding. I figured I could use these elements, as well as the general atmosphere of the shop, to create a solid foundation for branding. Using a warm color scheme, with fonts that evoke an old-timey feeling, and floral imagery reminiscent of a loving grandma, I gave the Delran Coffee Shop a cozy and welcoming aesthetic that feels brand new, yet familiar.
It’s fun to think of all the possible things to draw inspiration from when working with a blank slate. When stuck for ideas and you’re completely on your own, think of the circumstances surrounding the project, or what the client/company is about. Think about what kind of feelings or vibes you want to evoke. Are there any concepts or ideas integral to the company? A centerpiece? Then expand on that, and give your work a bit of meaning.
