Kikwtu Kenya Coffee
Contribution: Design
Kikwetu Coffee is a Chicago-based small business who was in need of a refresh of their visual identity. They were experiencing a lot of inconsistency in their branding across multiple touch points. This was keeping them from presenting a unified experience at all of the various events they were present at.
The Ask
Breathing New Life
Early on in the discovery process, Martha and Lee shared that their employees often wear aprons. The aprons contained a unique pattern that isn’t used by any other brand. It was created by an artisan from their home town in Kenya, which made it that much more special. Once I saw the pattern, I knew it had to be a key element Kikwetu’s new visual identity. So I recreated the pattern digitally and sought out to infuse it into as many items as possoble.
As you’ve seen above, Kikwetu’s branded experience wasn’t very consistent. It was also clear that each individual item was telling the same visual story. One sticker design was used on multiple products, and different patterns and textures were competing with one another. The plan was to create a sense of cohesion while still finding ways for each item to feel different from the other.
Packaging
To coincide with the launch of Kikwetu’s new visual identity, the team wanted to create a curated set of merchandise that best represented the update. There was even an opportunity to develop a sub-branded group of running themed products, as a nod to the owners’ interest in running and Kenya’s influence on the sport.
Apparel
Market Experience
As we began to dive into their presence at various Farmers Markets, there was a need to update to-go cups, tent canopies, and menu signage.
