Crispin Hard Cider
A detailed look at branding and packaging design for a line of hard ciders.
The entrepreneur behind Crispin was no stranger to the beverage world having already built a successful brand. He came to us with the name 'Crispin' in place and a strong, distinctive vision. Our task: bring that vision to life by developing the full Crispin brand, including three unique flavor profiles, packaging design, and launch-ready advertising concepts.
Brand Strategy & Research
Market Research: Hard cider competitors, market trends, consumer preferences.
Product Definition: A sparkling hard cider, served over ice.
Brand Positioning: Refreshing, light, elegant — an experience-driven serve in a Crispin branded glass.
Target Audience: Feminine-leaning; an alternative to masculine cider brands, wine, or beer.
Brand Development
The client's preliminary logo was a useful starting point but didn't capture the product's spirit. We explored new directions and landed on an apple tree — crisp, refreshing, and emblematic of the brand. The illustration became the most time-intensive part of the project, refined over weeks with the client.
We then developed the three flavor profiles — Brut, Original, and Light — each in a distinct shade of blue, designing labels and 4-pack packaging. Since serving over ice was a key differentiator, we captured it through styled photography, emphasizing the sparkle and glint of ice in the glass.
Final Design
A few years after launch, Crispin Hard Cider was acquired by MillerCoors — proof that good branding works!
