Case Study — Food & Beverage (DTC + Retail)

Café Diario: From Local Favorite to Scalable Coffee Brand

A rapid relaunch using the ICON Method—modern identity, conversion-first site, and an email-driven growth engine.

↓ 40%

Time to print approval

15%

Pick-up rate

Unified identity → Master dielines → SKU color logic → Vendor-ready print specs.

Press-ready files: Pantone/CMYK locked, barcodes/GTIN, varnish & white-ink layers.

Cost-efficient production: substrate/finish matrix, MOQ tiers, preflight to cut reprints.

Client

Café Diario

The Challenge

Café Diario had loyal customers but a fragmented look. Identity, labels, and print pieces came from different vendors—colors drifted, typography shifted, and packaging wasn’t retail-ready. The brand needed a consistent system that could scale SKUs, shorten print cycles, and cut unit costs.

Symptoms we found

Color management drift: No master Pantone/CMYK/RGB/HEX library; on-press colors varied by vendor and run.
Dieline/version chaos: Multiple unlabeled dielines, outdated Illustrator files, and no single “master” template.
SKU & data inconsistencies: Missing/duplicate GTINs, inconsistent roast/origin fields, and non-standard barcode placement.
Typography & accessibility gaps: Mixed fonts, irregular hierarchy, and small type failing retail legibility tests.
Vendor handoff friction: No print spec pack (substrates, coatings, ink calls), causing rework, delays, and higher unit costs.

Approach

We ran a focused ICON sprint that locked a unified identity (logo suite, color standards across Pantone/CMYK/RGB/HEX, retail-legible type hierarchy), engineered master dielines with SKU color logic and variable data fields, and published a vendor-ready print spec pack (substrates, coatings, ink/varnish layers, barcodes, preflight checklist, RFQ template)—so packaging scales cleanly across sizes and seasons while reducing rework, shortening print cycles, and lowering unit cost.

What we offered

Identity System: Lock logo suite, color master, type hierarchy, and icon set.
Packaging Architecture: Create a label/box grid, SKU color logic, and variable data fields.
Print Production: Press-ready dielines, ink callouts, white-ink/spot-varnish layers, barcodes, and preflight.
Cost Controls: Substrate/finish matrix, MOQ tiers, and a vendor RFQ sheet to compare unit economics.
Governance: 20-page brand/pack guide, print specs, and a templated InDesign/Illustrator package.

Solution

A consistent identity and packaging system that scales SKUs without redesign. We standardized color, type, and dielines; reduced print rework; and cut unit costs by selecting better substrates and finish tiers.

Unified Identity: Refined mark and lockups, tightened spacing, accessible color contrast, and retail legibility standards.
Scalable Packaging System: One master template driving all bag sizes and seasonal SKUs; variable panels for tasting notes and brew icons.
Retail-Ready Print Suite: Shelf talkers, case sleeves, shipper labels, barista cards, and a reorder one-sheet for wholesale partners.

Results — Early signals

Post-launch performance (replace with verified numbers as they accumulate).

Conversion Rate

Email Revenue Share

Repeat Purchases

Why choose us

Clarity starts here

We don’t just design brands—we transform them. Through the ICON Method, we align strategy, identity, and execution to spark measurable growth. More than a studio, we’re your partners in building clarity, consistency, and momentum.