UK BARISTA CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024

Working alongside the UK chapter of the Specialty Coffee Association, I designed the branding and illustrated sets of creative assets for the UK Barista Championship events, running across the UK throughout 2024. The SCA hold their own stand-alone barista tournaments as well as managing events at coffee festivals, with categories including cupping, roasting, coffee-based cocktail making and latte art.

The universal Brand :

Figureheading the project is a new logo for the UK Barista Championships. The SCA wanted something strong, inclusive and colourful as they move forwards with their aims to maintain diversity in the coffee industry. As you can see, this year the logo has already been used across event merchandise, awards, installations and social media.

Design of a nurse's cap with the text 'UK BARRISTATA CHAMPSHIP 2024' in blue on a yellow background and '2024' in blue on an orange background to the right.
Identification badge for the 2024 Lexington Barista Championship, labeled 'Alexx,' with a colorful background featuring embroidered letters and a silhouette of a bear.
Poster for the UK Barista Championship 2024 with a blue circle logo and bold text in yellow and orange blocks.
White container with a label that reads 'UK Barista Championship 2024' and the logo of the event, in front of a blurred blue and white background.
A person holding a white coffee cup with a logo and text that reads "UK Barista Championship" in front of coffee brewing equipment in a cafe setting.
Close-up of a flannel shirt with a badge pinned to it. The badge reads '2024', 'Sponsor', and includes the text 'Uckabarısia Championship' and 'Sponsor' in smaller print. The badge is attached with a blue lanyard.
A judge pass for the 2024 UK Barista Championship lying on a desk next to a clipboard, a pen, and several sheets of paper, including a chart and a printed document.

The Category Brands :

As well as the universal brand, I also created a brands for the other 5 competition categories, equipping each category with one clear logo, a relevant illustrated element, a pattern and a colour palette. Each colour palette is based on the international standard for each area of coffee competition.

Poster for the UK Barista Championship 2024 featuring a stylized coffee cup illustration with a blue background, and yellow and orange color blocks with blue text.
Graphic poster for the Brewmas Cup 2024 featuring a green and pink color scheme, with a stylized beer glass icon and the event details.
A digital illustration featuring a stylized purple and pink flower design with the text 'Latte Art 2024' in bold purple font on a yellow background.
A red circular logo with an orange bean shape inside, with a background of dark red and maroon. Text on the image reads 'CUP TASTERS 2024' in bold letters.
A graphic design poster for a coffee roasting event in 2024, featuring a stylized coffee bean with concentric circles and a flame-like shape, on a dark background with orange and yellow color blocks.
A graphic of a martini glass with a dark circle inside, set against a teal background. The text at the bottom reads "Coffee in Good Spirits 2024" with a pink and purple background.
A colorful collage of 20 abstract digital icons representing food, beverages, and kitchen items, including a plate, stamp, dotted circle, exclamation mark, waffle cone, spiral, person, jug, wavy lines, person with hands raised, steaming bowl, soup spoon, water drops, flame, coffee bean, cocktail glass, shaker, and noodles.

Brands in use :

To accompany the brand design and illustration, I also put together layour ideas for the internal creative team to consider when utilising the new brand, for example how to create an event banner or sharing competition results on socials.

Graphic for the UK Barista Championship 2024 featuring logos of coffee brands at the top, a central logo with a coffee cup shape, and illustrations of orange coffee cups on each side with blue text reading 'Specialty Coffee Association UK Championship' on the left and 'United Kingdom Barista Championship' on the right.
Poster for the 2024 UK Barista Championship with a stylized image of a coffee tamper and dotted design elements.
Brewers Cup 2024 event banner with the Brewers Cup logo, a pink, purple, and green color scheme, and an illustration of a purple coffee filter or dripper with green wavy lines.
Colorful cover page with a purple and pink flower-like design in the top right corner, a yellow banner with purple text reading "LATTE ART 2024," and a yellow and blue spring and mug illustration in the bottom right corner, on a light beige background with abstract wavy patterns.
A colorful brochure cover for Cup Tastings 2024 features a water droplet pattern, a teacup with tea leaves, a red teabag tag, and the event title and year.
A book cover for 'Coffee Roasting 2024' with a beige background, steam illustrations, a coffee bean, and flames design elements.
Illustration of a hand and a water bottle in pastel colors, with the text 'Coffee in Good Spirits 2024' on a pink and purple background.

setting the scene :

For the first events of 2024 I designed 2 backdrops for a series of UKBC heats in Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol and London, bringing together some of the most highly-respected baristas from across the UK.

Colorful infographic with icons related to coffee, drinks, and brewing, including a coffee cup, thermos, coffee beans, and brewing equipment, along with the logo of the UK Specialty Coffee Association.
Woman with a bun hairstyle pouring water into a glass at a coffee brewing station during a barista event, with a colorful backdrop and other participants in the background.
A woman with curly red hair and tattoos on her arm is holding a microphone and talking to a man. The man with glasses is wearing a beige shirt and a black apron, raising his hand as if explaining or answering a question. The background features color
A woman standing behind a barista station at a coffee competition with equipment and colorful backdrop.
Two women standing in front of a colorful, patterned background. One woman with curly red hair is holding a microphone and speaking, wearing bright green pants and a black top. The other woman with brown hair tied in a bun is smiling and wearing a de
A smiling woman with dark hair tied back, wearing an orange sweater and apron, is serving drinks in a coffee shop. Behind her is a large commercial espresso machine, colorful geometric wall art, and several glasses on the counter.
Two women are on stage at a coffee event, one holding a microphone and speaking while the other listens and smiles. The background features colorful geometric patterns and a sign that reads 'UK Specialty Coffee Association'.
A man celebrating a victory, holding a wooden trophy, surrounded by falling yellow confetti, standing in front of a colorful background with abstract graphics and the words 'City' and 'Association' partially visible.
A woman with blonde hair in a ponytail, wearing a white lace shirt and black pants, is smiling excitedly with her hands touching her face, amidst falling orange confetti and colorful background at an event.
Two people on a stage at a coffee competition, smiling, with coffee grinders and a sign displaying awards. One person is speaking into a microphone, and the other holds a microphone with a clipboard. Behind them are banners with coffee brand logos an
Award ceremony with three shiny gavel trophies on wooden plinths, labeled 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, on a round table against a vibrant, colorful background.
Group of five diverse women standing in front of a colorful, patterned background, celebrating and clapping, some smiling and one woman with hands raised.
Two women engaged in conversation at an event, one holding a microphone and clipboard, the other smiling. Background features a colorful mural with various abstract shapes and patterns.
A woman smiling with a microphone headset in front of banners related to a barista championship event.
An abstract graphic of a washing machine door with a blue color scheme.