Dark Matter Coffee
Packaging Design / Branding
When Dark Matter Coffee approached us to help them launch their new line of canned Coffee Cold packaging into the market, we were, quite frankly, super stoked.
We recognized a compelling opportunity to differentiate their products from the sweep of monochromatic, coffee-colored labels already on the shelves. We would fill Dark Matter’s labels with lush, vibrant hues and pack them from edge-to-edge with custom illustrations.
We recognized a compelling opportunity to differentiate their products from the sweep of monochromatic, coffee-colored labels already on the shelves.
We distilled a new brand direction for the four Coffee Cold flavors that tapped into a multitude of influences, including futurism, the experimental jazz composer Sun Ra and the owner’s Mexican heritage. That led us to commission Mexico City-based artist, Raul Urias, to infuse his unique, visually arresting, psychedelic illustrations for the labels.
The retro-futuristic labels float easily between states of consciousness (the brand’s motto is “drink coffee, stay high”), while playfully sitting next to their competition in market. Their unexpected complexity respects the quality and depth of the ultra-caffeinated juice inside the package as much as the legacy and vision of the team of Dark Matter founders, farmers, baristas and roasters who make it all happen.
Graphis Packaging 10, Honorable Mention.
Dieline, Dieline Awards 2020, Second Place, Caffeine Category.
STA Society of Typographic Arts, Winner 2019.
Design Annual 60, Communication Arts, September/October 2019.
Dark Matter Coffee, TheDieline.com, June 10, 2019.
Dark Matter Coffee, Mindsparklemag.com, April 21, 2019.
