Real Coffee Collective
Real Coffee Collective is a local Southern California coffee cart service business, where Keoni and Katie Real turned their love for coffee into a space for community. They have been able to curate and craft experiences with their cart, serving flavors that connect coffee and their Filipino American cultural roots. They were looking for an integration of cultural identity and symbolism to represent their mission and purpose in their branding and merchandise.
BRAND STRATEGY
VISUAL IDENTITY
LOGO DESIGN
PRINT DESIGN
Brand Strategy
Real Coffee Collective became a reality when Keoni and Katie Real decided to turn their love of coffee and community into something actionable and tangible, a full-service coffee cart serving Southern California. They were taken away by how inviting and helpful the coffee community was, which inspired them to take their business to the next level.
I worked with Keoni and Katie to craft a brand that was focused on their energy and identity, curating a visual representation of who they were in their personal style, their cultural roots, and their desire to connect. We focused on a Japanese-inspired art style that was minimal but inviting.
Logo Design
This logo was created for a brand centered on community, culture, and personal identity. Designed to be a symbol that holds meaning only when experienced within the context of the brand, the mark's beginnings draws inspiration from the client's family name, the spirit of gathering, and the idea of shared space. The final design reflects a sense of belonging while remaining open and adaptable, inviting individuals to bring their own meaning to the brand.
Printing for Cart: Logo Type
To create a cohesive yet flexible identity system, I developed an additional variation of the logo tailored for different applications. From a simplified mark for the brand as a whole to a more expressive, type-forward version for banners and signage. Each variation maintained the brand’s core visual language while adapting to scale, environment, and function to ensure clarity and impact across all touch points.
Visual Identity
The visual identity features a vintage-inspired palette of muted red and blue against an off-white background, evoking warmth, familiarity, and a sense of heritage. To further build out the brand, I designed supporting patterns and graphic assets that reflect paths to connection while appearing as a literal cup, creating a cohesive system that feels both timeless and personal while achieving the goal of meaning in context of the brand.
Touchpoints
To support the brand’s launch and in-person presence, I designed a set of print collateral including flyers, business cards, cups, and stickers. Each piece carried through the visual identity—integrating the logo, color palette, and patterns—to create a cohesive and memorable brand experience in both functional and tactile ways.
