Dots Canned Coffee

BRAND IDENTITY, PACKAGING, ENVIRONMENTAL

[TBD] is a Chinese-inspired canned coffee brand offering both familiar and new flavors in and community-focused way.

PROJECT DETAILS

BRAND IDENTITY, PACKAGING, ENVIRONMENTAL

ROLE:
- Designer
- Researcher
- Art Director

TOOLS:
- Illustrator
- InDesign
- Photoshop
- Nano Banana

PROBLEM TO SOLVE

The U.S. canned coffee market is highly saturated, leaving consumers overwhelmed with options and little differentiation on the shelf. At the same time, while Chinese coffee and tea flavors are gaining global recognition, they remain underrepresented in ways that feel fresh and accessible. This creates an opportunity to design a brand that stands out while thoughtfully bridging Chinese cultural heritage with modern coffee experiences.

SOLUTION

Bold Chinese characters are arranged in a structured grid alongside English text, this pairing establishes a direct cultural bridge while giving readers instant clarity on what the product is. Flavor graphics are structured alongside the Chinese characters, allowing taste and identity to be understood at a glance. A limited color palette highlights each flavor while maintaining a cohesive coffee identity, ensuring the product feels both familiar in its category and distinct in its cultural expression.

BRAND IDENTITY

A Chinese-inspired coffee brand re-interpreting Chinese flavors in a modern and sustainable way. Dots refers to the connections people make with the brand’s culture and community.

Our brand blends the richness of Chinese flavors with the art of modern coffee, creating a unique and accessible experience for every sip. Rooted in sustainability and community, we craft each brew with locally sourced ingredients and a commitment to preserving both tradition and the planet.

DOT’S POP-UP

Location: Volunteer Park

Measurements:
Shipping Container: 20' L x 8' D x 8' 6" H

Materials:
- Metal container
- W ooden signs
- Wooden frames
- Paper menu
- Paper booklets

MENU ITEMS

The menu extends Dots Coffee’s canned drinks into a customizable experience, showing how one product can transform into three distinct formats. Foam Dots, Hot Dots, and Chill Dots each reinterpret the same flavors, osmanthus, black sesame, and lychee, through iced, hot, and frozen applications. This approach highlights the versatility of the canned coffee while reinforcing a cohesive flavor system across the menu.

Each item is intentionally designed to feel approachable and DIY-friendly. From cold foam layering to simple toppings and swirls, the recipes can be easily recreated at home using accessible ingredients and minimal steps. The result is a menu that not only serves drinks and desserts, but also invites experimentation, encouraging customers to engage with dots coffee beyond the pop-up.

UNIFORMS

The uniforms are inspired by the Tang jacket (tangzhuang), reinterpreted through a modern, utilitarian lens.

Made from breathable cotton fabric, they’re designed to be comfortable and roomy, allowing ease of movement within the pop-up environment. Branded with the Dots logo and tagline, the pieces function as both workwear and everyday wear

PROCESS

POP-UP SKETCHES

■ CHRISTIE CHI

graphic designer concept and research driven

*WEBSITE UNDERCONSTRUCTION*site launching soon

■ PROJECTS

ABOUT ■

graphic designer
concept and research driven

WEBSITE UNDERCONSTRUCTION
site launching soon