Drink Packaging Designer
Branding and packaging design for Leeds based craft brewery Frisky Bear Brewing Co.
Drink Packaging Designer
Frisky Bear is a UK based craft beer brand. They reached out, as they were looking for a freelance graphic designer to help design their branding and packaging design. I worked on the brand research mood-board, and brand strategy to begin with, to determine the company values, target audience, and competitors etc, before making a start on the design stage. I then made a start on the logo concepts, and created a custom hand-drawn icon for the logo design. I then designed simple abstract shapes and patterns for the packaging labels for the whole beer range. The beers are now available from independents around Leeds, and Yorkshire.
Branding & Packaging Design for Craft Beer Brand Frisky Bear Brewing Co
If you're interested in the strategy behind beverage packaging design for start-ups and FMCG brands, you can read my guide here:
Food & Drink Packaging Design Guide for Startups
You can also explore more branding and packaging design projects here:
Drink Packaging Design for Craft Beer Brands UK
Packaging design within the craft beer and alcoholic drinks category needs to balance several important elements:
• Strong shelf visibility
• Distinctive brand personality
• Clear product differentiation across ranges
• Consistency across multiple SKUs
• Premium yet accessible positioning
For Frisky Bear Brewing Co, the goal was to create a bold and memorable brand that could stand out in the crowded craft beer market while maintaining flexibility across different beer varieties.
The logo, branding, label and packaging design also needed to support future product expansion while ensuring strong brand recognition across all formats.
THE CHALLENGE
The main challenge was creating a craft beer brand identity that felt distinctive and memorable within an increasingly saturated market.
Many craft beer brands rely on similar rustic or vintage-inspired design systems, making it difficult to establish strong shelf impact and long-term brand recognition.
The objective was to develop a more modern and flexible visual identity that combined personality with clarity and strong commercial appeal.
THE SOLUTION
We began with brand strategy and positioning to define how Frisky Bear Brewing Co should sit within the craft beer category.
From there, I developed:
• Custom hand-drawn bear icon for the logo
• Logo design and brand identity system
• Packaging label designs for the beer range
• Abstract pattern and shape systems
• Typography and colour palette development
• Scalable packaging design layouts
The final branding and packaging design direction creates a strong and recognisable brand identity that helps the beers stand out clearly on shelf while maintaining consistency across the full range.
THE OUTCOME
The result is a cohesive branding and packaging design system that positions Frisky Bear Brewing Co as a modern craft beer brand with strong regional appeal.
The packaging design improves shelf recognition, strengthens brand identity, and creates a more distinctive presence within the competitive craft beer market.
The beers are now stocked in independent retailers across Leeds and Yorkshire.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does a drink packaging designer do?
A drink packaging designer creates branding and packaging systems for beverage brands, helping products stand out on shelf, communicate flavour and positioning, and improve brand recognition online and across retail environments.
Do you design beer packaging?
Yes — I specialise in food, drink, health and wellness, packaging design, including craft beer brands, alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic, soft drinks, and beverage start-ups.
Why is packaging design important for craft beer brands?
Packaging plays a major role in helping craft beer brands differentiate in a saturated market, communicate personality, and attract attention in retail environments.
What makes effective craft beer packaging design?
Strong craft beer packaging design combines distinctive branding, clear product differentiation, strong shelf impact, and a flexible identity system across multiple beers.
Do you work with start-ups and established brands?
Yes — I work with both start-ups and established drink/beverage brands looking to launch, refresh, or reposition their branding and packaging design.
GET IN TOUCH
If you're launching or refreshing a beverage, food, or FMCG brand and need a UK-based drink packaging designer, I can help create strategic branding and packaging design systems designed for real-world retail and e-commerce performance.
Dave Jones Design is an award-winning freelance branding design and packaging designer specialising in food, drink, health and wellness branding and packaging design.
With over 10 years of design experience, I help start-ups and growing brands create commercially effective branding and packaging design systems built for retail and e-commerce success.
Looking for a drink packaging designer to help with your next packaging design project? Get in touch.