Nespresso
2022
Flavor Notes
Services:
Art Direction
Graphic Design
Illustration
Branding
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 | Collaborators: Joyce Yu, Stella Filipov, Cristiana Neves
01 Background
Brew Notes - Illustration - Orafio
Brew Notes - Illustration - Toccanto
Brew Notes - Illustration - Solelio
Brew Notes - Illustration - Odacio
The process for creating the Flavor Notes illustrations began with an in-depth exploration of each capsule’s tasting profile and the emotions it was meant to evoke. I collaborated with the Nespresso team to understand the subtleties of each flavor—notes like tropical fruit, dark chocolate, citrus, and cereal—then translated those qualities into a distinct visual language. I started with rough sketches to explore composition and flow, ensuring each piece could stand alone while still feeling cohesive as a series. From there, I refined the color palettes to align with the mood of each flavor: rich, deep hues for bolder profiles and bright, airy tones for lighter ones. Illustration played a key role in conveying texture and depth—I layered hand-drawn elements with digital techniques to give each visual a tactile, immersive feel. Throughout the process, I balanced creative storytelling with brand consistency, making sure each final design felt unmistakably Nespresso while adding an artistic, expressive twist. Regular check-ins with the team allowed for iterative feedback and refinement, ultimately resulting in a set of visuals that brought the essence of each capsule to life in a vibrant and engaging way.
02 Process
Brew Notes - 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.