Nespresso
2022
Services:
Art Direction
Graphic Design
Illustration
Branding
Flavor Notes
As part of Nespresso’s ongoing effort to bring storytelling into their digital presence, I was commissioned to design and illustrate four key visuals for a social media series called Flavor Notes—a campaign crafted to highlight the unique tasting profiles of select Nespresso capsules through bold, sensory-driven artwork. The objective was to create visually rich illustrations that would not only communicate flavor, but evoke the emotional experience of tasting each coffee. Each visual served as a standalone expression of the capsule’s identity. For Toccanto, I leaned into its tropical essence, illustrating vibrant pineapple, pomegranate, and oceanic elements to evoke a refreshing, exotic profile. Solileo, with its citrusy and floral notes, inspired a warm, sunlit palette that radiated brightness and lightness. Orafio, known for its bold, chocolate-forward taste, was illustrated using deep, rich tones and layered textures to mirror its indulgent character. Lastly, Odacio called for a bright, dynamic composition to reflect its fruity and cereal-like profile—blending energy and softness in one visual moment. This series allowed flavor to come alive visually, transforming tasting notes into an immersive visual language for Nespresso’s digital audience.
Role: Senior Designer @ Nmbl
01 Background
Branding - Illustration - Orafio
Branding - Illustration - Toccanto
Branding - Illustration - Solelio
Branding - Illustration - Odacio
The process for creating the Flavor Notes illustrations was guided by a strategic goal: to elevate product storytelling through emotionally resonant visuals that captured the sensory complexity of each Nespresso capsule. We began with a deep dive into each blend’s tasting profile, not only identifying the core flavor notes—such as tropical fruit, dark chocolate, citrus, and cereal—but also understanding the emotional responses they were designed to evoke. This phase was critical for building a creative direction that could connect with consumers on both a sensory and emotional level. I collaborated closely with the Nespresso team to align on how these nuanced profiles could be translated into a visual language that would be both distinctive and brand-true.
From there, I explored initial sketches that focused on composition, movement, and symbolic representations of taste, ensuring each illustration had a strong standalone presence while feeling cohesive as a collectible series. The color palettes were intentionally refined to mirror the tone of each flavor—deep, moody hues for rich profiles like chocolate, and brighter, more ethereal tones for lighter, fruit-forward blends. This approach helped reinforce product differentiation visually, aiding recognition and storytelling across digital and physical platforms. To bring added texture and depth, I layered hand-drawn illustrations with digital shading techniques, creating a tactile, immersive aesthetic that stood out from more conventional product visuals.
Throughout the process, strategic balance was key: maintaining creative freedom to express the uniqueness of each flavor while ensuring alignment with Nespresso’s refined brand identity. Regular check-ins with the team enabled collaborative refinement, keeping the project agile while upholding creative integrity. The final set of illustrations served not only as beautiful artwork but also as a strategic tool—visually embodying the craftsmanship and sensory richness of Nespresso’s capsules, and enhancing consumer connection through elevated, expressive design.
02 Process
Branding - Illustration - Final Designs
The Flavor Notes campaign was a visually striking and well-received addition to Nespresso’s social content, successfully transforming flavor profiles into a compelling storytelling experience. The illustrations stood out in-feed, capturing attention with their bold use of color and artistic interpretation, leading to increased engagement and strong positive feedback from Nespresso’s digital audience. The series helped deepen customer connection to the product by turning abstract tasting notes into vivid, emotional narratives—encouraging users to explore new capsules based on mood, flavor, and aesthetic. Internally, the campaign was celebrated for its originality and flexibility, setting a creative benchmark for future content that blends education, branding, and visual artistry. The success of Flavor Notes reinforced the power of design as a tool for sensory storytelling, and opened the door for additional campaigns that explore the intersection of taste and visual experience.