Choosing A Caffeinated Holiday Beverage Based On Design 2009
I dread the premature onslaught of Christmas decor (October? Seriously?) but even I'll admit to joining the holiday coffee bandwagon a bit early this year. And while the varied seasonal drink offerings of popular coffee chains are all delicious, I sometimes find myself judging them by their covers...cups, sleeves and all. Because, let's face it, if you're spending $3.50+ on a cup of coffee, it better come dressed in its holiday finest.
Now that the holiday season is officially in full-swing, I bring you the [unofficial] guide to "Choosing A Caffeinated Holiday Beverage Based On Design 2009."
Exhibit 1: Starbucks Coffee Company
Boasting over 16,635 stores in 49 countries, Starbucks has a lot to live up to. And their gingerbread latte— my personal favorite—never disappoints. This year, the world's largest coffee company took a handmade approach to cup design. The ever-popular red cup utilizes "cut-paper" tree and ornament graphics. I'm drawn to the handwritten text and the coordinating coffee sleeve. Design Grade: A
Exhibit 2: Caribou Coffee
Caribou really stepped it up this holiday season. Not only are they touting new gourmet chocolate in their drinks, they also set themselves apart from the competition with non-traditional graphics and colors. I especially like the metallic silver coffee sleeve, the brown chocolate type/graphic and a unique brown lid. Whimsical nature graphics and ornate type make this cup my favorite of the four. Design Grade: A+
Exhibit 3: Panera Bread Company
Taking the minimalist approach to coffee cup design, Panera conveys a seasonal message with a basic red cup and clean typography. While it may not be the most ornate approach, it's simplicity does stand out against competitors' louder designs. My one beef with this design is the lack of holiday graphics after putting a sleeve on the cup. Design Grade: B
Exhibit 4: McDonald's McCafé
I was pleasantly surprised when I purchased a McCafé latte and found their cup just as decked out as those of the pricier competition. A chocolate brown, deep red and gold color scheme maintains ties with McDonald's tried-and-true red and yellow palette while achieving a more elegant, high-end look. The font isn't fantastic (in my humble opinion), but this company has come a long way with their packaging design. Design Grade: B+
The bottom line: The holiday season offers a great opportunity for companies to think outside the box in their product and packaging design. The competition for business amongst coffee-craving holiday shoppers is fierce, and design is yet another way companies like Starbucks, Caribou, Panera and McDonald's make their products more desirable to consumers.
How are other companies utilizing the holidays to push their products and achieve noteworthy design?
Olympic Poster Proposal
Saw these the other day on a design blog and fffound and finally found out who did them and what their ultimate purpose was for. They are proposals designed to work with the Transport for London branding, not for the London 2012 Olympics, and I think would work perfectly in that context. They are simple, clever and have a graphic elegance reminiscent of Otl Aicher’s work for the 1972 Munich Olympics, with typography that is pure London.
See these beautiful posters and more from Alan Clarke Graphics.