Burak Sahin - Istanbul French Fries · CLIENT: Istanbul French Fries
Blend 1601 celebrates shade grown coffee through a packaging series that replaces industrial aesthetics with artisanal warmth, centered around a tree canopy motif. Using sustainable kraft material and a vibrant color system, the design creates an emotional link between barista craft and forest ecology. The result is a tactile, story driven identity that highlights the natural origin and unique character of each blend.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Blend 1601 is a premium packaging identity system that prioritizes storytelling over technical overload. Rather than overwhelming users with data, it communicates the essence of coffee through color, texture, and visual simplicity. The collection includes: Two signature 500g blends (Classic & Efso)
Four 250g single-origin variants. Each product features a distinct color palette inspired by its flavor profile. For instance, the Efso Blend uses a bold teal tone to reflect its smooth opening and intense finish, creating a synesthetic link between taste and color. The packaging is built on eco-friendly kraft pouches, merging sustainability with a refined artisanal aesthetic. This balance positions the product between handcrafted authenticity and premium contemporary design. - Dimensions & Packaging
- The system ensures consistency across formats.
500g pouch: 135 × 260 mm, label 100 × 153 mm.
250g pouch: 110 × 200 mm, label 90 × 120 mm.
All labels have 4 mm corner radius.
Material: eco-friendly multi-layer kraft with high-barrier lining.
Printing: high-resolution on textured, sustainable stock.
The system supports scalability, efficiency, and a cohesive brand identity. - Tags
- coffee packaging, specialty coffee, shade-grown, sustainable design, kraft packaging, brand identity, minimalist packaging, artisan coffee, eco-friendly packaging, label design
- Production Technology
- Production reinforces the tactile warmth of the "Shade-Grown" concept. Labels feature balanced proportions and softened 4 mm corners for an organic feel. Printed with high-resolution offset on textured paper, they combine clarity with tactility. Hand-applied onto eco-friendly kraft pouches, slight imperfections are preserved, reflecting artisanal authenticity and the balance between natural process and precision.
- Design Challenge
- The challenge was translating a technical concept into an emotional visual language while balancing premium perception with warmth. This required precise control of typography, color, and illustration to avoid both oversimplification and technical overload. Another key task was creating a scalable identity system that differentiates blends while maintaining consistency. The result is a unified system that communicates complexity with clarity.
- Project Duration
- Turkey, 2025
- Operation Flow
- The design uses an intuitive, icon-driven system to simplify interaction. A bean icon indicates whole beans, while a droplet represents ground coffee, enabling instant recognition. The front label introduces the "Shade-Grown" story through color and composition, while the back delivers structured information such as origin and brewing. This dual-layer approach balances emotional engagement with functional clarity.
- Research
- This project explores emotional responses to specialty coffee packaging and the role of visual language in perceived quality. Research revealed a gap between technical packaging and the demand for warmth and storytelling. "Shade-Grown" emerged as a key narrative. The resulting strategy shifts from data-heavy communication to sensory storytelling, combining organic visuals and tactile materials to balance premium positioning with human connection.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the "Shade-Grown" cultivation method, this design translates an ecological philosophy into a visual language. Coffee beans that mature slowly beneath the protective canopy of forest trees embody patience, balance, and harmony with nature. This relationship is expressed through a minimalist tree-shadow motif, symbolizing protection and natural rhythm. The raw kraft surface reflects the soil and organic origins, while vibrant label colors represent the energy and character of coffee cherries thriving in shaded microclimates. Moving away from sterile, technical coffee packaging, the design aims to create an emotional connection -inviting users into a warm, sensory, and nature-rooted experience.
- Image Credits
- Istanbul French Fries
Press releases are available in 1 languages.