Gold Food, Beverage and Culinary Arts Design · 2020
Dengo 80g Chocolate Bar
by Brazil & Murgel Design Studio
- A' Design Award 2020 Gold Winner in Food, Beverage and Culinary Arts Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Dengo Chocolates
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 132,841
- Verification code EC5AF6D1EE · Verify this award
About Dengo 80g Chocolate Bar
Dengo 80g is a chocolate bar created for Dengo Chocolates. The sculptural shape represents elements of the Atlantic Forest in Bahia, Brazil, where the cacao is harvested, such as dry leaves, foliage and seeds. Curved surfaces combine two-dimensional and three-dimensional lines, so the polished finish reflects light across the bar. The bar is produced in polycarbonate moulds made from CNC machined aluminium templates, which hold the fine lines and curves. The varied thickness gives a crisp snap when the bar is broken.
Within the contemporary tradition of elevated culinary presentation, Brazil & Murgel's Dengo 80g Chocolate Bar emerges as a remarkable synthesis of confectionery craft and sculptural form, positioning chocolate as a medium for aesthetic contemplation as much as gustatory pleasure, the work participates in a broader movement wherein artisanal food production engages with design principles typically associated with architecture, jewelry, or industrial arts, transforming humble ingredients into objects worthy of sustained visual attention, the chocolate's faceted surface demonstrates sophisticated understanding of how geometric complexity interacts with light, each angular plane calibrated to create maximum visual interest through the natural play of illumination and shadow across its terrain, this approach elevates the conventional chocolate bar grid into something approaching relief sculpture, inviting viewers to appreciate the precision of mold-making and the lustrous temper of properly crystallized cacao butter, the presentation context further amplifies these qualities through thoughtful material juxtaposition, the handcrafted ceramic vessel with its organic ribbing suggests traditional craft while its neutral palette allows the chocolate's rich brown tones to command attention, the tropical leaf introduces botanical authenticity and references cacao's equatorial origins, grounding the refined product in its natural heritage, the weathered wood surface beneath completes a narrative of materials drawn from earth and transformed through human skill, together these elements construct a visual argument for chocolate as cultural artifact deserving reverent attention, the composition invites meditation upon the journey from tropical plantation to artisan workshop to this moment of aesthetic appreciation, viewers might consider how the geometric language of the chocolate's surface creates its own system of meaning, suggesting both natural crystalline structures and human geometric invention.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Since a glossy chocolate tells a lot about its quality, the shape was designed in order to treat the light as something tangible. The light is explored on a surface that results from a combination of 3D and 2D lines, creating volumes and shapes that portray elements from the Atlantic Forest, where Dengo's cacao is harvested. The chocolate becomes a sculpture that represents seeds, fruits and leaves in an effort to inspire, create brand recognition and convey the brand's message to the consumer.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 80g / Width 80mm x Depth 180m x Height 8 mm (aprox)
- Tags
- Cocoa, Chocolate, edible, Brazil & Murgel, organic, Brazilian Atlantic forest, cacao, Dengo, Brazil, Bahia
- Production Technology
- After the first creative steps, which included roughs and hand-carved wax modeling, it was developed the digital model to generate the moulding templates in CNC machined aluminum. This templates were used to manufacture polycarbonate chocolate moulds that guarantees high fidelity of the lines, curves and surfaces, as well as the high-polished finishing of the chocolate.
- Design Challenge
- Dengo aims for real environmental and social impact through a short production chain, valuing the cocoa farmer's work. Besides, the brand has a spontaneous visual and verbal identity, with a very strong Brazilian identity and style. Therefore, it was essencial that the bar it self should tell the story about it's origin, as well as disrupting the monotony found in ordinary chocolate bars in order to reflect authenticity, spontaneity and the Brazilianness found in the brand's personality.
- Project Duration
- The project took place in Sao Paulo, between May and October 2018.
- Operation Flow
- Dengo Chocolate Bar should be intensely perceived through all the senses. Firstly, the bar comes as a surprise after opening its wraps, presenting an unpredictable shape. The vision engages the perception of high quality chocolate by it's polished surface, as the shape communicates the cacao's origin. Secondly, the dynamic thickness allows a crisp snap, which means it is a well-tempered chocolate and provides a good biting experience that enhances the perception of the flavor as well.
- Research
- The first of many layers of research is the origin of Dengo's cacao: the cabruca, a traditional cocoa agroforestry system, located in the heart of the Atlantic Forest in Bahia, Brazil. In cabruca, cacao trees are cultivated under tall native species that filter access to light, and promote an active cycle of organic matter, enriching the soil with water and nutrients. Interviews with cocoa farmers, images and visits to the Atlantic Forest were a rich complement for the creation of the concept.
- Inspiration
- The design represents elements found in the Atlantic Forest, the origin of Dengo's cacao, such as dry leaves on the ground, foliage of the tall trees that provide an interesting play of light and shadow, and a variety of seeds. The aesthetics is also influenced by Tarsila do Amaral and Lasar Segall, two of the leading Brazilian Modern Artists. Some key characteristics of their work guided to an expressive style, consistent with what had already been created for the brand in previous projects.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Rubens Kato
Image #2: Estudio Gastronomico
Image #3: Estudio Gastronomico
Image #4: Diego Cagnato
Image #5: Diego Cagnato - Patents
- n/a