TALK DIRTY CO
Industry: Household Essentials + Laundry Care
Location: Adelaide + Canberra, Australia
Scope: Brand Identity, Creative Direction, Packaging Design + Brand Assets
Project Type: New Brand Launch
Talk Dirty Co is a bold, playful laundry care brand founded by two sisters on a mission to make low-tox household essentials more accessible, trustworthy and a lot less boring. Inspired by the energy of La Dolce Vita, the project took a completely different approach to traditional eco-cleaning brands, bringing together vibrant colours, expressive typography, cheeky messaging and playful illustrations to create a distinctive brand world. From the visual identity and supporting assets through to packaging design, everything was created to help Talk Dirty Co stand out in a crowded market, build recognition and establish a strong foundation for future product expansion and retail growth.
OVERVIEW
The Designer Drinks Co. came to me initially for a website, but after getting to know Sam and understanding what he actually does, I felt there was a much bigger opportunity here. Sam has spent years developing drinks and working with some really well-known names in the industry, but his own brand wasn't quite communicating that same level of experience and expertise. What I found interesting was that his business sits somewhere between science and creativity. He's not just helping brands come up with drink ideas, he's working out how those drinks should taste, feel and perform, right through to whether they can actually be produced and sold successfully. So for me, the challenge was how to communicate all of that without making the business look like a laboratory, a corporate consultancy or another drinks brand. I wanted to create something that felt more like a luxury atelier or a traditional perfumer's studio, somewhere you'd expect to find someone who really understands their craft. The idea was to build a brand that felt established, understated and incredibly considered, without needing to shout about any of it.
PROCESS
I started by looking at the relationship between the product itself and the person creating it. There are so many sensory elements involved in developing a drink, from flavour and aroma to texture, ingredients and balance, and I wanted to find a way to bring those ideas into the identity without being too literal. Rather than using the obvious imagery of glasses, bottles or splashing liquids, I looked at the ingredients that sit behind the finished product. Citrus peel, juniper and botanical shapes became the inspiration for the supporting illustrations and textures, almost like the details you'd find pressed into expensive paper or embossed onto traditional packaging. From there, I built the identity around warm, neutral tones, dark typography and plenty of negative space. I wanted everything to feel intentional, but I was also conscious that minimalism can very quickly start to feel empty if there isn't enough thought behind it. The typography needed to do a lot of the work, the textures needed to add character without becoming decoration for the sake of it, and the overall identity needed to feel premium without trying too hard. When it came to the website, I carried that same thinking through but also had to consider how people would actually use it. Most of Sam's business comes through referrals, so I wanted someone landing on the site to be able to quickly understand what he offers, see the brands he's worked with and feel confident getting in touch. At the same time, I wanted to give people the option to explore his experience and projects in more detail. That's where the structure, subtle movement and individual case studies came in. Rather than making everything compete for attention, I wanted Sam's work and the products he develops to bring their own personality into the space, while his brand remained the consistent thread holding everything together.
OUTCOME
The final direction gives The Designer Drinks Co. a much stronger presence without losing the quiet confidence that makes it different. It doesn't look like a typical drinks consultancy, and it doesn't try to compete visually with the brands Sam works on. Instead, it creates a space where his expertise feels like the most important part of the business. The botanical details connect the identity back to the ingredients and craftsmanship behind drink development, while the typography, colours and layouts create that sense of quality before someone has even read a word. The website then takes that same visual direction and turns it into something practical, with clear services, a considered user experience and a project library Sam can continue updating as his business grows. What I really like about this project is that it shows how branding doesn't always need to be loud or full of personality to make an impression. Sometimes it's about knowing what to leave out, understanding what people need to feel, and giving the right things room to stand out. For me, that's what makes this direction work. It positions The Designer Drinks Co. not as another brand trying to sell drinks, but as the experienced creative and technical partner helping bring those drinks to life.
