Group Project in collaboration with Nicole Isserow and Alice Kim
Branding and Identity, Illustration, Packaging
Programs used: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
OVERVIEW
NRG is a energy drink company which empowers the dynamic lives of career-driven women and pilates devotees. Their natural, adaptogenic energy drinks not only invigorate your body but also reflect their dedication to sustainability through reusable glass bottles, transforming seamlessly into elegant vases or versatile water containers.
Elevate your energy, embrace sustainability, and flourish with NRG.
Brand Rationale and logo design
As is expected of a group project, we discussed many ideas of what direction we would go for our energy drinks, but we were very drawn to the idea of doing a very health-focused natural adaptogenic drink.
This is reflected in our Brand Name: NRG, which is stripped to the root of the word ‘ENERGY,’ simply leaving only the necessary elements to give you what you need. The idea was to strip away all unnecessary additives, focusing solely on core, simple ingredients that you can trust, resulting in a clean, effective energy source that supports an active lifestyle.
I was tasked with the logo design, however I was the least knowledgeable on adaptogenic drinks so it was quite challenging at first. Eventually though, after helpful guidance and clarifying the direction of the project from my teammates, I decided to work with figure and ground within the logo, symbolizing the plant leaves from the adaptogenic ingredients. I also added purposeful space on the “R” and the “G” to represent mindfulness and creating space in the busy lives of our target audience. Finally, I worked with kerning and connected all the letters representing connection between our customers, with themselves and with
the planet.
the planet.
Colours and Typography
For our colours, we selected a palette that feels both luxurious and inviting. It combines warmth and gentle optimism with a touch of playful sweetness, ideal for fostering a serene, elegant environment which we thought was a good fit for our direction.
The Seasons Regular
This typeface is used mostly for titles and headlines. It is an elegant classic serif font family consisting of high contrast serifs with a vintage chic look, just like our target audience.
Satoshi Regular
This clean, contemporary typeface pairs perfectly with The Seasons. This typeface is used when we have a little more to say, to ensure that our communication is clear & digestible.
DESIGN ELEMENTS
Nicole’s suggestion to use the figure-ground leaves as design elements across other project components was insightful. This idea helped us maintain thematic consistency and created visually appealing flower patterns. I also developed a clover-like design inspired by another adaptogenic ingredient, adding a unique touch to our design language.
Label Design
Holy Basil and Mint
Coffee and Kava
Ginseng and Lemon
To align with our brand message, we kept the drink labels clean and simple, with our neutral Jicama colour used for the background of all three flavours to create a consistent design between them. Typography is also used sparingly, adding more to the minimalistic feel to the project. To add more interest in the label, we put our design elements alongside the logo to emphasize our natural - adaptogenic angle.
Bottle Design
Sustainability is at the core of our ethos, which is why we use reusable glass bottles that can be elegantly repurposed, reducing waste and promoting environmental consciousness. The intention is for these beautiful bottles to be re-used for other drinks or as vases for flowers in your home.
The box design, intended for our monthly subscription program, was envisioned as a luxurious and clean packaging solution. Using the same cream colour as the labels, with a soft gradient, it complemented the serene and elegant brand image. The cut-out bottle outlines allowed the beautiful glass bottles to be visible, enhancing the unboxing experience.
Ads
Nicole’s illustrations for our posters captured the elegant and soothing vibe we aimed for. The artwork featuring fruits and berries was both unique and eye-catching, reinforcing our brand’s message through a visually engaging medium.
Social Media Ads
For social media, Nicole designed an interactive Instagram story that allowed users to engage with the brand in a dynamic way. This approach aimed to enhance brand visibility and foster a connection with our audience through interactive content.
Reflection
Overall, working on the NRG project was a fantastic experience. It really pushed me to dive into design areas I wasn’t super familiar with. The teamwork was a huge part of that—my classmates brought in so many different perspectives that really helped shape our final vision. Even though I hit some bumps along the way, the feedback and support from the team were crucial in improving my design skills and pulling everything together. This project showed me just how importan collaboration is, and it highlighted how working together can turn challenges into opportunities for growth.