Lippincott partnered with the founders to evolve their beloved brand and brew a wholly unique customer experience that would set Gumption apart in a saturated coffee landscape. For Gumption Coffee to be successful, the brand needed to capture the true essence of Clare and Hazel, and the ethos that they have cultivated: Gumption is more than just a word. From Hazel’s humble origins of brewing coffee from a rewired popcorn machine to eventually being named Australian Barista Champion and Australian Cupping Champion, Gumption is a story of ingenuity, tenacity, and boldness.
The new visual identity is designed to be eye-catching and inclusive, a fresh departure from the minimal aesthetic that’s now commonplace. The custom logotype retains the brand’s quirkiness while elevating it to signal premium coffee and expertise. The negative spaces in the G and the O resemble milk swirling into coffee and symbolize the inner “gumption” that the brand’s coffee gives to its customers. The bold brand colors were selected to drive differentiation from the muted tones often found in the industry, while also working well across both the physical space and digital/print applications. The patterns, featured on the brand’s coffee bags and merchandise, symbolizes the journey Gumption’s coffee takes before every pour—starting on the farm as leaves, and then berries, beans, and, finally, in its ground form.
The store design is distinct and playful, playing up sophisticated coffee cues. From the attention-grabbing storefront, to the wall of comics engagingly telling the founders’ story, to the signature wave centerpiece signaling the rush felt from a first sip of coffee, the space is thoughtfully designed to elevate human connection while serving customers quickly with their award-winning coffee.