The Edit: five new projects including Away Days Brewing Co by Land of Plenty

Each and every day, we're lucky to discover dozens of interesting and inspiring projects from around the world. From global identities and campaigns to side projects and independently published books, The Edit is home to five of them; every two weeks.

The British owners of The Toffee Club, a popular football pub in downtown Portland, Oregon, were offered the chance to take over the brewery space next door. They wanted to use the space to continue the football theme without alienating any of the local beer-drinking purists. The result is the Away Days Brewing Co, an independent brewery and bar, rooted in travel, adventure and the finest European beer. London-based design consultancy Land of Plenty was tasked with creating the new bar’s identity, and ultimately found the solution in the double meaning of the name. In the US, Away Days relates to days off from work, whereas, in the UK, it’s a reference to following your football team on the road. The visual language revolves around a bold stripe, referencing parasols and awnings found on bar terraces on warm summer evenings as well as the nostalgia of classic football jerseys. This is complemented by a sans serif wordmark and mascot (Away Dave) that are more in-keeping with a streetwear brand than a brewery as part of a wider plan to appeal to a younger beer-drinking crowd.

OK Drugs is a cannabis start-up from California that’s looking to get ahead during a green rush that’s quickly crowding the burgeoning new market. Cape Town-based studio Parsons Branding was commissioned to design their identity to help them build an audience. OK Drugs’ packaging is filled with tactile intricacies that make for an immersive user experience: pre-rolled joints feature custom filters and colour-coded patterns; matte soft-touch boxes are printed in a way so that when users read the copy, it simulates rolling motions; and secret messages are printed on the glue line of each box.

Buddy Buddy is a nut butter brand from Belgium. For its identity, Mexico City-based studio By Futura aimed to transmit a youthful, playful vibe and the concept of being with the best company you can have. The friendly illustrations show the idea of ‘me time’. Different moments of sharing and enjoyment are captured with a sense of wit, and the wordmark, with its stacked double-B, adds to the fun. Pops of colour are used to differentiate the products within an otherwise neutral palette.

Vörda (Swedish for ‘to protect, to respect’) is an American plant-based lifestyle brand that offers a collection of natural premium teas, seasonings and aromatherapy. Bodø-based studio By North was commissioned to develop the name, brand strategy, visual identity and packaging for the new brand. They created a bespoke logotype that builds a face out of the ‘O’ and extends the dot theme across the other letterforms. It’s combined with an active colour-palette, expandable geometric pattern and a generous amount of white space, creating a high-end yet inviting aesthetic. In keeping with Vörda’s commitment to natural, healthy and sustainable products with minimal impact on the environment, the packaging and other brand applications utilise recyclable materials.

Vista Blue Spa is a state-of-the-art, sophisticated escape for guests of the Monterey Plaza Hotel. They had a desire to streamline and modernise their brand, and have done so with the help of Los Angeles-based designer Rachael Gibilterra. The new-look retains a classic timelessness through simply-set serif typography and high-end paper stocks, but has an added artistic twist through a series of seaweed specimens that were collected by the University of California.