Honest and Local: Packaging designs for hip East London beer

Tasked with creating the branding and packaging were Together Design, who've been working since 2012 to brand Eat 17’s commitment to local produce and diverse communities, summed up by the tagline ‘Honest food for local people’.

Creative director Katja Thielen gives some background. “When we started working with Eat 17, we created a dynamic illustration called 'The House of Eat 17’, where each room depicts a different part of their many food offers: shelves filled with juicy fruit and veg, busy chefs making mouth-watering burgers, a cosy lounge area and restaurant where people can chat and catch-up. Meanwhile, the bustling activity outside shows Eat 17 at the heart of a thriving local community."

Together Design went on to hand-pick small, individual details from this illustration to create everything from the store signage and food packaging to uniforms and the website. And when it came to the new craft beer, the same principle applied.

The design for Eat 17 Session IPA depicts two people effortlessly enjoying a beer in relaxing surroundings. The aim was to communicate the feeling of ‘sharing good beer with good people’ and reflect the welcoming, relaxed atmosphere that Eat 17 - which also has stores in Hackney and Whitstable - is known for.

A bold, graphic colour palette helps the packaging stand out on the shelf, and the illustration style has a strong, independent feel. Adapting and developing ideas from the original ‘House of Eat 17’ illustration provides consistent identity through both the digital and physical brand experience.