Barrio, the neighbourhood cafe

Design: Caparo design crew
Location: Greece
Project Type: Produced
Client: Barrio cafe Rethymno
Product Launch Location: Global
Packaging Contents: Food, coffee
Packaging Substrate / Materials: Paper
Printing Process: Offset

Barrio – The Neighbourhood Cafe is a local business in Rethymno, Crete, with two shops. It serves quality coffee and snacks for breakfast, brunch, and lunch in a wide variety of customers across ages and social profiles. Τhe creative challenge for us was to design an identity for the takeaway packages and other brand collaterals that would be engaging for a mixed target group. The client asked for modern, recognizable packages that reflect the profile of the business. “We want the cups to be noticed and work as advertising for us when somebody walks around the town with one in their hand; to create some buzz”.

We created a series of detailed illustrations that visualize the brand’s name and core concept, the actual neighborhood! We transformed the shop into a gigantic product placed in the center of the actual neighborhood of the area. This way, the illustration elements compose a map inspired by the real spots, surroundings, and buildings of the town with Barrio in the center of it but still imaginary. We wanted to involve the consumers with the image by intriguing them to discover the details, wonder about the accuracy of architecture scenes, and even re-create them in their minds by filling gaps they see. Ideally to begin a conversation between the brand, the locals, and the place.

The illustration has a quite simple yet witty style, and we did this intentionally to achieve an accessible look & feel, appealing to the wide target of the consumers. Each application has a different visual relevant to the product packaging: coffee, dessert, food.