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Mugo Bottled Soda Label by Tanya Dunaeva

Mugo Bottled Soda Label by Tanya Dunaeva is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 Bronze A' Design Award in Packaging Design Competition Category.


BronzePackaging· 2023

Mugo Bottled Soda Label

by Tanya Dunaeva

Client: Tanya Dunaeva

Bronze A' Design Award Winner in Packaging Category

13,304

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #146302

Colors

The Design

About Mugo Bottled Soda Label

Mugo soda consists of four types of drinks that are Mocktails, Lemonades, Spicy syrups and Energetics. All the recipes are exclusively invented. The original approach in Product creations requires similar approach in Packaging Design. The solution to this problem is a Typographic one. It is based on the design of the classic label of traditional expensive alcoholic beverages, but in order to present the originality and novelty of the product, with a significant rethinking of the classics. The multi-layered and contrasting design structure makes design individual and remarkable.

The Recognition

About the Bronze A' Design Award

Mugo Bottled Soda Label is a Bronze A' Design Award winner, a highly prestigious recognition granted to outstanding designs distinguished by creativity, ingenuity, and astuteness. Bronze winners are amply skillful and strikingly creative artifacts that authenticate the vast experience, imagination, and resourcefulness of their designers. Mugo Bottled Soda Label is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished object that is notably professional and innovative. This Bronze A' Design Award-winning design incorporates best practices in art, science, design, and technology, and is excellent for its attention to detail. Mugo Bottled Soda Label splendidly satisfies needs, touches desires, charms feelings, and appeals to curiosity.

Interviews

Grand Interview

Your innovative typographic approach in Mugo Bottled Soda Label brilliantly reimagines classic alcoholic beverage aesthetics - could you walk us through the creative process that led to this distinctive multi-layered design solution?

The creative process behind the *Mugo Bottled Soda* label began with a clear goal: to blend the heritage of classic, high-end alcoholic beverage labels with the modern, innovative spirit of a soft drink brand. The challenge was to create an identity that felt familiar and luxurious, yet fresh and unique.First, I analyzed traditional labels from premium alcoholic beverages, noting the recurring elements: ornate typography, intricate borders, and classic symbols of refinement. The task was to extract the essence of these elements but with a modern twist, stripping away unnecessary details to make the design feel more contemporary.The concept of a multi-layered typographic structure was central to achieving this balance. For the main brand name, I chose a classical antiqua typeface. This typeface provided a sense of tradition and sophistication, echoing the luxurious feel of classic labels. However, to create a contrast and highlight the innovative nature of *Mugo*’s product line, I paired this with a strict grotesque typeface for the secondary text layers.The result was a combination of timeless elegance with a modern, minimalistic edge. The contrast between the antiqua and grotesque typography emphasized the layers of information—product names, flavors, and icons—without overwhelming the viewer. Each layer was carefully structured so that the design would remain legible and impactful across different bottle sizes and packaging formats.Additionally, I simplified the overall layout, reducing the ornate elements typically found in traditional labels. This allowed the design to feel fresh, easy to recognize, and scalable across the entire product line. The final label design reflects both the heritage of fine beverage packaging and the bold, experimental nature of Mugo’s flavors, striking a balance that is at once sophisticated and inviting.

The Mugo Bottled Soda Label features an intriguing contrast between traditional luxury cues and contemporary elements - how did you balance these opposing design languages to create something both familiar yet revolutionary for this non-alcoholic beverage line?

Balancing the traditional luxury cues with contemporary elements in the *Mugo Bottled Soda Label* was a key challenge in creating a design that feels both familiar and revolutionary. To achieve this, I started by examining the core principles of classic alcoholic beverage labels—sophistication, elegance, and a sense of heritage. These elements often include intricate typography, high-quality paper stock, and symbols of craftsmanship. To evoke this luxury, I used a classical antiqua typeface for the brand name. This choice connected *Mugo* to the rich traditions of fine spirits, making the product feel refined and high-end. However, to distinguish it from alcoholic beverages and emphasize its position as a modern, non-alcoholic offering, I paired the traditional type with a strict grotesque font for the secondary text. The grotesque font's clean, geometric forms provided a contrast to the ornate, traditional style of the antiqua, representing modernity, clarity, and simplicity.The visual contrast between these fonts helped create a layered, dynamic typographic solution. The antiqua evoked timeless luxury, while the grotesque typography made the design feel more accessible and in line with contemporary trends, perfect for the modern consumer looking for a fresh and innovative beverage.Additionally, I stripped away the complexity that typically accompanies traditional labels, simplifying the structure to a more minimalist approach. This reduction in ornamentation allowed the design to feel sleek and refined, while still being easily readable and functional for a diverse range of bottle formats.By combining these contrasting design languages—classic luxury and modern minimalism—I was able to create a label for *Mugo* that feels both familiar and innovative, appealing to a new generation of consumers who seek both quality and originality in their beverages. This dual approach, drawing on both tradition and contemporary design, set *Mugo* apart in the soft drink market.

In developing the Mugo Bottled Soda Label system across four distinct beverage categories - Mocktails, Lemonades, Spicy syrups and Energetics - how did you maintain visual cohesion while differentiating each product type?

To maintain visual cohesion while differentiating each product type in the *Mugo Bottled Soda Label* system, I focused on creating a strong, unified design structure that allowed for flexibility within each beverage category. The core design elements—such as the simplified traditional label structure, multi-layered typography, and minimalistic aesthetic—remained consistent across all four categories, providing a cohesive visual identity for the entire brand.However, to differentiate the product types—Mocktails, Lemonades, Spicy Syrups, and Energetics—I strategically applied color coding and unique graphic icons, while maintaining the overall design language.1. **Color Coding:** Each product category was assigned a distinctive color from the brand palette. The use of specific colors for each category (such as a vibrant color for mocktails, a refreshing hue for lemonades, a warm tone for spicy syrups, and a more energizing shade for the energetics) allowed customers to instantly recognize the flavor profile and differentiate between the drinks. This color differentiation was carefully chosen to be bold yet aligned with the brand's minimalist aesthetic.2. **Iconography:** To further differentiate each category, I introduced subtle, but meaningful icons within the design. For example, each product had its own unique icon that represented its essence—whether it was a stylized lime or citrus for lemonades, a spice or herb motif for spicy syrups, or an energy bolt for energetics. These icons were integrated into the label design, layered under the typography to reinforce the uniqueness of each beverage while keeping the overall look clean and refined.3. **Layered Typography:** While the typography structure remained consistent across all products, the second layer of the typography—the taste identifiers—was customized for each product. For instance, the word "Mocktails" would have a slightly different visual treatment than "Lemonades," with subtle adjustments in weight, spacing, and placement. This maintained the visual balance while giving each product category a distinct visual identity.By combining these thoughtful design solutions—color, iconography, and typographic variation—I ensured that each *Mugo* product category had a distinct personality while still fitting into a unified system. This allowed the brand to express its diversity in flavor and product while staying true to the sophisticated and minimalistic design ethos that defined the *Mugo* identity.

Read the Full Interview

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Mugo is a new brand on the market of soft carbonated drinks. The label line consists of four types of drinks. Mocktails are carbonated soft drinks with exquisite taste compositions. Lemonades are a combination of various juices with mineral water and vitamins. Spicy syrups are natural syrups with original flavours based on spices. Energy-tonics are the perfect combination of vitamins and minerals in invigorating drinks.
Dimensions & Packaging
Bottle height: 15cm; Front Label: 8x5cm; Back Label: 8x1cm
Tags
Tanya Dunaeva, Typographics, Packaging Design, Jzoy.agency
Production Technology
The basic technique for this Packaging design is Printing design that is posed at rather standard formed bottle. Congreve is used to make a beautiful view, and also a pleasant-to-touch product. Tactile sensations enhance visual effects.
Design Challenge
The task and a challenge was to create a unique, non-typical packaging label that is not similar to any other Products. As a result we can see multi-layer typography - a mix of fonts and impressions.
Research
After analysing the scheme of the classic label and identifying the main most frequently repeated elements, it was decided to simplify these elements as much as possible to the point where a little more and the similarity will no longer be read. Thanks to this solution, a construction scheme was obtained that can be easily scaled to the entire line. The typographic solution turned out to be multi-layered and contrasting.
Inspiration
The classic labels of alcoholic beverages inspired to create a fresh mixed design.
Project Duration
Project has been realised during 4 weeks at Bishkek city, Kyrgyzstan
Operation Flow
This is a standard bottle with twisted cap
Patents
-
Team Members
Tanya Dunaeva
Image Credits
All Images by Photographer Tanya Dunaeva
Video by 3D Visualist PAvel Gubin

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