Blend 1601 Umsebenzi Ophambili: Uyilo Lomqhubo Wekofu by Burak Sahin - Istanbul French Fries

Blend 1601 Umsebenzi Ophambili: Uyilo Lomqhubo Wekofu by Burak Sahin - Istanbul French Fries is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Ibhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award in Uyilo lwePakheji Competition Category.

IntsimbiIpakheji· 2026

Blend 1601 Umsebenzi Ophambili: Uyilo Lomqhubo Wekofu

by Burak Sahin - Istanbul French Fries

Client: Istanbul French Fries

Ibhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award Winner in Ipakheji Category

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Colors

The Design

About Blend 1601 Umsebenzi Ophambili: Uyilo Lomqhubo Wekofu

Blend 1601 ibhiyozela ikofu ekhula phantsi komthunzi ngoluhlu lokupakisha oluthatha indawo yobuhle bemveliso yamashishini ngobushushu bobugcisa, olujolise kwiphethini yesithsaba somthi. Isebenzisa izixhobo zekhraft ezizinzileyo kunye nenkqubo yemibala ephilileyo, uyilo ludala unxibelelwano lweemvakalelo phakathi kobugcisa bomlungiseleli wekofu kunye ne-ekholoji yehlathi. Umphumela sisazisi esibambekayo, esiqhutywa ngamabali esigqamisa umsuka wemvelo kunye nesimo esikhethekileyo somxube ngamnye.

The Recognition

About the Ibhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award

Blend 1601 Umsebenzi Ophambili: Uyilo Lomqhubo Wekofu ngumphumeleli weIbhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award, ukuqatshelwa okuhlonitshwayo okunikwa imiyilo elungileyo eyanelisa iimfuno zobungcali neemveliso ezilindelekileyo kwimveliso ezicwangciswe kakuhle. Abaphumeleleyo beNtsimbi babonisa ubuchule obukhulu, ubuchule obuphezulu, ukuqonda kwengcali namandla okuyila abayili babo. Blend 1601 Umsebenzi Ophambili: Uyilo Lomqhubo Wekofu iyathenjwa ukuba ibe yimveliso exatyiswa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo esebenzayo neyinto entsha. Lo myilo uphumeleleyo weIbhaso Lentsimbi le-A' Design Award udibanisa iindlela ezilungileyo kakhulu zemboleko kwaye unezimpawu zobuchwephesha ezifanelekileyo ezidityaniswe nolwazi netalente. Blend 1601 Umsebenzi Ophambili: Uyilo Lomqhubo Wekofu iyahlonelwa ngenxa yenkcukacha yayo kwaye yacwangciselwa ukunika uphuculo lomgangatho wobomi olunceda ukwenza ihlabathi libe yindawo engcono.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

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.
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.
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.
Team Members: Agency: Istanbul French Fries
Designer: Burak Sahin
Image Credits: Istanbul French Fries