THE DESIGNER DRINKS CO
Industry: Drinks Development + Beverage Consultancy
Location: United Kingdom
Scope: Brand Identity, Creative Direction, Website Design + Brand Assets
Project Type: Business Rebrand + Website Development
The Designer Drinks Co. is an established UK drinks development consultancy helping founders, brands and investors bring premium beverage products to market. The project involved creating a complete visual identity and digital presence that better reflected the expertise behind the business. Inspired by the world of luxury ateliers, botanicals and traditional craftsmanship, the creative direction was designed to elevate the company's positioning, build credibility and create a more premium experience that supports its continued growth.
OVERVIEW
The Designer Drinks Co. came to me initially for a website, but after getting to know Sam and his business, I felt there was a bigger opportunity here. He had years of experience creating drinks for some seriously impressive names, but his own brand wasn't quite reflecting that same level of expertise. What interested me most was the gap he was trying to close in the industry, where the branding of a drink can promise one thing, but the liquid inside doesn't always live up to it. I wanted to take that same thinking and apply it to his business. The goal wasn't to create something loud or overly branded, but to build a visual world that felt just as considered as the products he develops. Something that felt more like a high-end atelier than a typical technical consultancy.
PROCESS
The biggest challenge was making minimalism feel intentional rather than empty. I wanted the brand to have that understated, almost old-world luxury feel, but still have enough personality to be recognisable. So rather than relying on the usual drinks industry imagery, I started looking at the ingredients themselves. Citrus, botanicals, and the shapes found in nature became the inspiration for subtle motifs that could be used almost like embossed details on beautiful packaging. I kept everything tonal, paired it with refined typography, and treated the negative space as just as important as the design itself. The thinking was that every detail should have a reason for being there. That same approach carried into the website, using typography, texture, and subtle movement to create interest without overwhelming the work. I also wanted the products and brands Sam has worked on to bring their own colour and personality into the experience, rather than having his identity compete with them.
OUTCOME
What I love about this project is that it shows how much thought can go into something that looks so simple. The identity now has its own character without needing to demand attention, and the wider digital direction gives Sam's work the space to speak for itself. The subtle ingredient references connect everything back to what he actually does, while the typography, textures, and considered layouts create that sense of quality before someone even reads about his experience. It feels established, confident, and a little unexpected for the industry, which is exactly where I wanted it to land. For me, the success of this direction is that it doesn't try to make The Designer Drinks Co. look like another drinks brand. It makes it feel like the expert behind them.
