Hector Rodriguez Aguilar
Atomic Sips: Retro Coffee Brand & Visual Identity
A 1950s-inspired café branding project blending cosmic aesthetics with cozy design.
Concept Idea
What is Atomic Sips?
Atomic Sips is a fictional café and bakery that fuses mid-century diner culture with playful, space-age charm. This project explores branding, packaging, and promotional design through a nostalgic, imaginative lens.
What was my goal?
As the designer, I created a full visual identity system including logo design, poster advertising, a branded menu, packaging wallpaper, and a social media-ready aesthetic. My goal was to evoke warmth, whimsy, and consistency across all assets.
What was my creative direction?
Inspired by vintage signage, pastel palettes, and atomic motifs, this brand balances retro visuals with clean, modern usability.
Mood Board + Inspiration
This mood board draws inspiration from 1950s diner signage, atomic motifs, and bold mid-century color palettes. The visuals reflect the retro-futuristic charm that defines Atomic Sips.
Logo Design Process
The Atomic Sips logo was inspired by atomic-age design, mid-century diner signage, and orbit lines. I aimed for a playful yet clean mark that felt nostalgic and fresh. Below is a look at how the logo evolved from concept to final.
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Image
Notes
First Sketch
Initial sketch – exploring orbit shapes and retro curves
Second draft
Refined concept – cleaner form and type pairing
Final Logo
Final logo – bold, fun, and brand-ready
Menu Design
The Atomic Sips menu was designed to reflect the café’s playful, retro-futuristic vibe while remaining clean and easy to navigate. I incorporated the brand color palette, atomic motifs, and custom icons to create a nostalgic yet functional layout.
Poster Design
I designed a promotional poster for Atomic Sips to highlight its featured drink, the Moon Milk Cold Brew. Inspired by vintage diner signage and atomic motifs, this poster blends playful typography, orbit graphics, and dreamy pastel tones to capture the brand's retro-futuristic charm.
Packaging Design
The Atomic Sips packaging system was designed to extend the brand’s nostalgic, space-age charm into every customer interaction. I developed a custom wallpaper pattern and applied it across coffee cups, pastry bags, and other to-go materials to create a unified and memorable brand experience.
Final Reflection
Atomic Sips was a deep dive into building a cohesive visual identity that balances playful nostalgia with practical design. Inspired by 1950s diner culture and atomic-age optimism, I developed a full brand system including logo, menu, promotional posters, packaging, and more.
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Through this project, I explored how to tell a consistent story across every touchpoint — from the swirl of a cold brew to the orbit lines on a cup sleeve. It challenged me to think critically about brand personality, customer experience, and visual rhythm. Atomic Sips is a project that reflects both my love for visual storytelling and my attention to detail.