A sustainable branding solution.
Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop; Canva
How can complex systems be made more sustainable? It starts with identifying environmental impacts made throughout a supply chain, from cultivation all the way to disposal.
Working as part of a team, I helped design a solution that would reduce the environmental impacts of wine production while elevating the customer experience.
Vinfinity is a conceptual chain of wine bars providing growler-style refills and a moment of respite where customers least expect it: on their grocery run.
Understanding the Problem
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The fictional inspiration for this project was a winery from Oregon’s Willamette Valley worried about the environmental impact of its products.
After seeing how wildfires in the PNW have tainted the flavors of wine, they’ve become increasingly concerned about the effects of climate change on the quality of their product. They want to create wine that is not just low impact – they want it to have a positive impact on the environment!
Our job as a team was to explore a system around the grapes that can deliver wine to customers without the impact of bottles, and where all the parts of production “give back” to the land.
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To alter a system one must first understand how it works. Using a systems map, I outlined all the inputs and outputs of every major step in the conventional wine-making process. This allowed me to understand its full scope and identify opportunities for sustainable improvement.
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Mind mapping and concept sketches produced the idea of “Vinfinity”. A combination of the French term for wine and infinity, Vinfinity encapsulates the brand’s self-perpetuating solution to waste in the wine industry: replacing traditional glass bottles with miniature casks conveniently refillable at an in-store wine bar.
Crafting a Solution
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Switching from traditional glass wine bottles to miniature wooden casks reduces Vinfinity’s impact by 24% over the product’s lifecycle. The casks preserve taste as well, storing wine in a more natural state.
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The Vinfinity wine bar makes refilling convenient and desirable. It provides shoppers with a product as well as an experience. The footprint of the bar is small enough to fit into any grocery store layout but large enough to create a tangible space between shopping and relaxing.
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The advertising campaign meets Vinfinity’s target audience where they are, prioritizing Facebook and print ads in grocery stores. It stays consistent with Vinfinity’s message of promoting sustainability without sacrificing style. An online wine club rewards customer participation and creates a sense of community around Vinfinity’s brand.
