Pagoda City Brewing is more than just a brewery; it's a cornerstone of it's community. The challenge was to create a brand identity that reflected this local pride and celebrated Reading's unique character, all while translating seamlessly to the digital world (along with its brick-and-mortar location).
Inspiration came from the city's iconic landmark, the pagoda. I used a hand-drawn style for the primary mark and icons, echoing the dedication to quality, craft, and the personal touch Pagoda City Brewing brings to every beer. This warm aesthetic extends beyond the logo, creating a cohesive brand experience across all platforms.
To truly connect with their audience, I designed a responsive website built on Webflow that seamlessly integrates their new branding. This allows Pagoda City Brewing to completely customize their online presence, ensuring their virtual taproom feels just as welcoming and inviting as their physical one.
A compact version of their primary illustrative icon was created specifically for smaller applications, ensuring brand recognition even in tight spaces like beer labels and website footers.
The badge design was used widely across the brand, from signage options to business cards and t-shirts.
Pagoda City Brewing's limited color palette evokes a sense of heritage while maintaining a sophisticated and intentional brand identity, a nod to Reading's history.
Pagoda City Brewing understood the importance of adaptability across their digital and physical branding. That's why I chose a variable font – a versatile typeface that can seamlessly scale from a slim design for a can label to a bold display on their website. This ensures a consistent brand identity no matter the application.
Social posts were created on Canva to allow the team to be able to quickly implement designs. This empowers them to keep their audience engaged with a variety of visuals, including funny quotes or lighthearted jokes, all while maintaining a consistent brand aesthetic.
Business cards for the brand included both employee cards and store location cards. The store location card features a textured Reading skyline to separate content, while the employee card opted for a simpler, bold look for sharing information.
Icons (above) were crafted to create holistic brand patterns, and for showcasing different pour styles on the tap list.
Pagoda City Brewing's website is built on Webflow. This platform empowers a super-custom design that seamlessly showcases their brand identity, highlights their delicious pours, keeps you updated on upcoming events, and even helps you find their brews nearby.
In today's digital landscape, a website that looks great on mobile is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. Recognizing this, prioritizing mobile optimization was paramount for Pagoda City Brewing's website project. With a high percentage of users accessing the site through their smartphones and tablets, ensuring a seamless and user-friendly mobile experience was a key focus.
