Hector & Sylfan
Black Pepper Stout
Refreshing stout with a light and spicy kick. JDO Raw brief.
The brief from JDO
Design a new food or drink brand for millenials with a twist. Use our ‘mash up’ generator to start your initial product idea.
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The response
The brand created focuses on the premise of my two late grandfathers meeting at the time of my parents marriage. They both carry a vast history of experiences throughout their extraordinary lives. After deliberation over various brand ideas, this thought couldn’t be ignored. Not only did I see it as a homage to their memory, but a concept that would carry a deep sense of meaning. A brand which would capture the attitudes and ideals the millennial generation seeks.
Background
The brewing company focuses on the intent to create a proper drink for all. The partnership between the two founders encourages everyone to put aside all racial difference. It conveniently reflects current attitudes to an inclusive society without judgement.
Brand style
The illustrative and analogue style emphasises the warm feel of the brand. A handmade identity. The logo is accompanied by the acrylic brush typeface used for the brand name, also building up the emotional “feel”.
Celebrating the past
Hector & Sylfan is a relaxed, friendly brand, for drinking at home or enjoyed at the pub. The bottle caps have six different designs to encourage connection to the story of the grandfathers.
Bottled & on tap
The packaging shows images from the two mens’ lives - saucepans referencing Hector’s experience in the ship’s galley to mining machinery for Sylfan’s hometown of Gilfach Goch, once a welsh coal mining village.
Reflection
Despite the project not being my most recent, it still remains one of my favourites. Not only for sentimental reasons, but as an opportunity to realise my illustrations within an identity. The narrative sources were very strong which provided a wealth of inspiration and avenues to explore. As I’ve developed however, I would like to be able to tell this narrative further, while it is conceptual, I can envision how the brand could build a meaningful community, and sell the story, not just the product.
