Coffee Idea Exploration
In 2023, I created these works as a study in communicating ideas through design. The project focused on exploring the concept of growth, starting with an object that symbolizes this theme. I chose coffee, tracing its evolution from a cultural tradition to becoming an essential part of daily life. To deepen my understanding, I analyzed its structure and elements, experimenting with various media and interpretations. This exploration allowed me to expand on the theme of growth in dynamic and creative ways.
Interpretations of coffee through images and drawings
This small study involved photographing coffee cups and using vector tracing to break them down into their core shapes. I then experimented with color to see how it impacted the form, using vibrant hues like red to convey action and more subdued tones to indicate stillness. Through this approach, I was able to use the cup's form to tell a story: the coffee cup starts full, empties, and is discarded, eventually landing in the trash.
Object Representation and Simplification
Informational Poster: Global Grind
Through this poster, I wanted to share the history of coffee, how it has splashed across the world and where it is primarily produced.
Coffee has long been a symbol of community, often serving as the backdrop for meaningful connections. When we meet with others, it’s frequently over a cup of coffee. To capture this sense of warmth and friendliness, I used a soft gradient background with warm browns and a vibrant green. The typography interacts with the coffee mug, while highlights and shadows on both the mug and the coffee create depth. The coffee itself guides the viewer's eye across the poster, ensuring every detail is noticed. My goal wasn’t just to create something visually appealing, but to evoke a sense of connection and celebrate coffee’s role in bringing people together.
The poster states:
"Originally from Ethiopia, coffee has grown globally, bringing people together and creating a community of coffee lovers. Coffee was mainly used to aid in religious rituals in Ethiopia. It was taken in order to achieve divine consciousness in midnight prayers. It became a symbol of transcendence of the human soul. This would however change once introduced to the rest of the world.
Coffee can now be found just about anywhere due to it being introduced to European countries, who would then cultivate it in their colonies, such as Portugal and Brazil. We can also thank Howard Schultz, for he bought out many owners to launch his own company, Starbucks, which would become one of the most recognizable brands in the world. He aimed to create a community within coffee bars in the same manner that Italy does with their romance and art. Unlike bars, anyone can enter a cafe and meet up there at any time. Coffee is more than a caffeine kick, it’s a place for people to connect and even create. Many businessmen meet up at cafes, and in certain cases, they create financial institutions while there, like the Lloyds of London, which was an idea created in Lloyds coffee shop. Coffee became a symbol of hospitality, where everyone is welcome to join. "