Overview:
The Lipton Tea Collection was a passion project that combined traditional artistry with precise packaging engineering. The goal was to create a premium tea experience where the design felt as rich and layered as the flavors inside. Each tin was designed to be both collectible and functional, enhancing the tea-drinking ritual.
Lipton Tea Collection — Handcrafted Packaging Case Study
- Concept Development: Started with the idea of infusing the natural, artisanal qualities of tea into the visual identity. I wanted the design to feel warm, inviting, and rooted in nature.
- Hand-Sketched & Watercolor Artwork: Every flavor’s illustration was hand-sketched and painted with watercolors, giving the collection a human, tactile quality that digital graphics alone couldn’t achieve.
- Flavor Storytelling: Each tin features a unique illustration reflecting the origin, aroma, and personality of its tea — from floral blends to rich black teas.
- Typography & Brand Integration: The Lipton logo and brand identity were incorporated seamlessly, balancing existing brand recognition with the fresh, artistic direction.
- Packaging Layout & Die Lines: Designed to fit precise tin dimensions, ensuring a perfect wrap and alignment across every surface.
- Product Line Cohesion: Created a complete system — individual tins for each flavor and a larger assortment tin that unified the collection visually.
- Color Management: Used color palettes tied to each tea type while maintaining harmony across the collection.
- Elevated Lipton’s brand aesthetic into the premium, giftable space.
- Demonstrated how handcrafted art can translate beautifully into mass-produced packaging.
- Created a memorable unboxing experience that doubles as a reusable keepsake.
Artistic Process – Hand-Sketched & Watercolor Artwork
Packaging Layout & Technical Details
Design Impact & Client Value
- Analyzed Lipton’s existing packaging and competitor brands.
- Studied consumer behavior trends in tea purchasing, focusing on millennial and Gen Z markets.
- Researched tea culture, flavor profiles, and global packaging styles for inspiration.
- Created mood boards incorporating botanical illustrations, clean lines, and vibrant colors.
- Experimented with typography combinations to balance modernity with brand recognition.
- Designed box and sachet layouts with optimal space for flavor imagery, brewing instructions, and brand storytelling.
- Integrated eco-friendly material considerations into the structural design proposal.
- Developed hand-drawn botanical elements to communicate freshness and natural ingredients.
- Applied color coding for easy flavor recognition (e.g., green for Earl Greyer, blue for British Breakfast, deep red for pomegranate).
Design Process
- Reimagine the Lipton brand in a way that honors the timeless tradition of teatime across all ages, classes, and lifestyles. The hand-drawn watercolor design evokes the elegance of high tea while remaining warm, approachable, and inviting—whether enjoyed in solitude or in the company of others.
- Highlight tea variety through unique visual cues and color palettes.
- Improve shelf visibility with bold yet clean typography and contemporary illustrations.
- Incorporate sustainability considerations in packaging concept.
Creative Objectives
Research & Inspiration
Concept Development
Packaging Structure & Layout
Illustration & Color Strategy
As a conceptual academic project, the Lipton Tea Collection design successfully balanced sophistication with accessibility, creating a brand system that feels both classic and contemporary. The visual identity bridges generations, ensuring Lipton remains trusted, recognizable, and inviting to all, while adaptable for modern retail production.
Lipton Tea branding, Packaging, & Product Design outcome
- Cohesive Collection Look: Each flavor feels part of the same family but stands out individually.
- Illustration-Led Design: A signature visual element that differentiates it from more generic, photo-heavy competitors.
- Clear Flavor Cues: Immediate recognition of flavor through color and imagery.
- Premium Feel: Use of minimal, elegant layouts for a higher perceived value.
- Full packaging mockups for multiple flavors.
- Box, sachet, and multipack designs.
- Brand style sheet with typography, color codes, and illustration guidelines.
- Branding & Packaging Concept Design
- Typography & Layout Design
- Color Theory & Visual Hierarchy
- Illustration Integration
- Market & Trend Research
- Sustainability Considerations in Design
Key Design Features
Deliverables
Skills Demonstrated
