We love dogs! We need more dogs on Sprudge. Thankfully, we have Onda Origins, who have two adorable pups (in woodblock form) on their Ivonne Herrera release out of Guatemala—see the full, beautiful work below. It’s part of the company’s design refresh that uses powerful imagery coupled with bright colors.
“After 8 years, we’ve grown into a playful, community-driven specialty coffee company that takes specialty coffee seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. We wanted this to come through in captivating colors, place-based artwork, and a handcrafted aesthetic, whether in packaging, merchandise, cups, or our in-person cafe,” says Onda Origins Creative Director Taylor Buck.
We spoke with Onda Origins Creative Director Taylor Buck to learn more.
What was the core inspiration behind this design?
The new branding draws inspiration from the vivid signage and artistry of coffee-growing regions, as well as the landmarks, wildlife, and natural resources found on our growers’ farms and within their communities — from Congo to South America. Our growing partners provided specific imagery to be included on each bag, and were consulted throughout the process. The refreshed logo and design elements embody a profound sense of place that resonates with our mission.
Who designed it?
Parker Studio in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood.
How does collaboration play a role in your design process?
We wanted our growers to have a lot of agency in how their coffee is visually represented, so we asked them directly: What do you want on your bag? The block print style art on each bag is directly representative of what the grower felt best represented their farm, community, country, and experience of growing coffee. Collaboration is core to our mission (we source directly, nurture personal relationships with all growers, and share revenue after roast and sale), so it felt important to integrate that approach into the design process.
From first vision to final product, how long did the design process take?
About a year.
When did it launch?
Oct. 15, 2024.
How does the package design reflect the company’s overall branding and messaging?
After eight years, we’ve grown into a playful, community-driven specialty coffee company that takes specialty coffee seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. We wanted this to come through in captivating colors, place-based artwork, and a handcrafted aesthetic, whether in packaging, merchandise, cups, or our in-person cafe.
Tell us about some of your favorite design details.
We love the interchangeable wordmarks (there are four iterations), and the expansive but cohesive color palette. It gives us a lot of room to play, while still maintaining a sense of cohesion. The block print style bag art is also really beautiful; the representation of our Costa Rican farming partner Enrique’s family vehicle (a legend and a staple on the farm) is a favorite.
Are there key elements of the packaging meant to educate the consumer?
On every bag, the name of the grower is front and center, followed by their location. The back of each coffee bag details our mission and our Revenue Share model, and gives a little insight into the person or people behind the coffee. We also feature tasting notes, MASL, process, and roast level.
Is the design optimized for shelf presence? How does it aim to stand out?
Yes! With bright, variant colors that all complement each other, an eye catching wordmark, beautiful artwork, and a sleek matte aesthetic, these bags are definitely optimized for shelf presence.
Are any of the packaging materials recyclable or compostable?
The bags are fully compostable outside of Seattle, and can be returned to our in-store Ridwell box (or placed in any other Ridwell) within Seattle city limits. (We offer a $1 discount on the next bag when someone brings in an empty bag.)
Where is this available to purchase?
ondaorigins.com, Onda Origins cafe in Hillman City, Seattle, or at any Fresh Flours Bakery location around Seattle.
Visit Onda Origins official website. Follow Onda Origins on Instagram @ondaorigins.
Coffee Design is an original feature series on Sprudge curated by Sprudge co-founder Zachary Carlsen. Read more from our Coffee Design archives.
