The challenge
Portobello Coffee House is a self-initiated concept project exploring how an established independent coffee house could evolve its brand for a new generation of customers.
With decades of imagined history behind it, the concept centres on a business with a loyal customer base and strong local reputation. As coffee culture continues to evolve, expectations around brand experience, digital engagement and visual identity have changed dramatically.
The challenge was to retain the familiarity and character of a traditional coffee house while creating a more contemporary presence capable of connecting with today’s customers. The identity needed to feel warmer, brighter and more relevant without losing the authenticity that made the business appealing in the first place.
The approach
The project explored how a refreshed visual identity and brand language could bridge tradition and modern coffee culture.
A refined logo, contemporary colour palette and expanded visual system provided the foundations for the new identity. Rich coffee-inspired tones were paired with brighter accent colours to create a more distinctive and engaging presence across physical and digital touchpoints. Conversational messaging and approachable language reinforced the social nature of the coffee house, helping the brand feel welcoming, familiar and human.
The resulting system was designed for flexibility, allowing products, promotions, events and everyday communications to work together as part of a cohesive brand experience.
The outcome
The proposed identity extends across a wide range of customer touchpoints, including takeaway packaging, menus, window graphics, signage, campaign advertising and digital communications.
A mobile-first website concept extends the brand online, balancing commercial objectives with ease of use. Product promotions, loyalty rewards and events are given equal prominence, creating a digital experience that reflects the social and community-focused nature of the brand.
Together, these elements demonstrate how thoughtful brand strategy and visual identity can help a traditional coffee house evolve for contemporary coffee culture while maintaining the familiarity, personality and sense of place that customers value most.
