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Huy Hoang Reimagines Slurry with a Street-Inspired Coffee Identity Built for Real Urban Living

Huy Hoang Reimagines Slurry with a Street-Inspired Coffee Identity Built for Real Urban Living

SLURRY is a brand created from the smallest, most genuine moments that shape the rhythm of everyday life. It was born from the way people in the city move: fast, instinctive, sometimes chaotic, but always full of intention. In a place where no two mornings look the same, where some begin their day running on deadlines while others take a slow walk to their favorite corner café, SLURRY positions itself not as the “perfect” coffee, but as the one that fits these rhythms — quick, honest, unfussy, and always ready to go.

The inspiration behind SLURRY comes from the street lifestyle of Vietnam: the metal stools on sidewalks, the scent of freshly brewed robusta drifting between motorbikes, the sound of ice cubes clinking in a glass, the handwritten menu signs, the small gestures of everyday life that often go unnoticed. These raw fragments of street culture became the emotional backbone of the brand. They carry stories — not loud, cinematic moments, but ordinary scenes that feel familiar, comforting, and deeply human.

A Coffee Brand for Real City Living

SLURRY embraces the idea that coffee is not a ritual reserved only for slow mornings or sophisticated spaces. It can be part of a busy commute, a mid-day pick-me-up, or a small pause squeezed between responsibilities. The brand is not built around the idea of perfection or artistry, but rather authenticity and adaptability. It acknowledges that people drink coffee for different reasons: to stay awake, to reset their mind, to treat themselves, or simply because it is a part of their routine.

The product line reinforces this philosophy. Each item — from the grab-and-go canned coffee to the tin boxes holding roasted beans — reflects a different lifestyle moment. Some are for people who rush. Some are for those who prefer a slow extraction at home. All are created with the same intention: to serve real lives in real motion.

Design Direction: Minimal, Raw, and Purposeful

The visual identity of SLURRY is intentionally bold yet stripped down. The typography is thick, condensed, and slightly irregular, capturing the feeling of movement and immediacy. It echoes the noise and pace of the streets — a little messy, a little unbalanced, but full of character. The layout system embraces large text blocks, unconventional spacing, and an editorial feeling that stands out among traditional coffee branding.

The illustrations are hand-drawn line artworks inspired by Vietnamese street moments. They depict people working, resting, wandering, or simply living — each illustration a snapshot of urban spontaneity. The lines are raw and imperfect on purpose, mirroring the charm of real life without embellishment. The simplicity of line art also contributes to the brand’s accessibility: relatable, unpolished, familiar.

Together, these elements form a cohesive identity that looks modern yet rooted in culture, expressive without being overwhelming. SLURRY’s design system avoids excessive decoration; instead, it focuses on clarity and emotion through minimal means.

Packaging Concept: Functional Aesthetic

In the packaging, the identity becomes tangible. The tin boxes for coffee beans are designed with industrial cues — matte surfaces, metallic finishes, and strong typographic compositions. The intention is to make the packaging feel like an object found in a creative studio, not a commercial supermarket shelf. It is meant to feel sturdy, straightforward, and honest.

The canned coffee, on the other hand, captures the “grab and go” experience. Each can highlights a different character of coffee — classic milk, black roast, creamy variants, and bold modern blends. The layout structure remains consistent: bold product name, supporting descriptors, and line illustrations depicting relatable city-life moments. This creates both diversity and unity across the lineup, making the cans easily distinguishable while maintaining a strong brand presence.

Every design decision is a balance between practicality and expression. The packaging must communicate clearly — flavor, purpose, ingredients — but it must also tell a story. SLURRY achieves this by layering functional information with cultural cues in a thoughtful, intentional manner.

Illustration System: Capturing the Rhythm of the City

The illustrations do not attempt to portray a polished, idealized version of life. Instead, they focus on ordinary gestures: a man rushing with his bag, a woman pausing to tie her hair, a street vendor pouring coffee, someone waiting for their drink at a sidewalk stall. These illustrations become metaphors for pace, identity, and individuality.

Each line drawing is designed to animate slightly, as if alive. The motion concept involves subtle movements — a small shift, a breath, a light sway — symbolizing that even tiny moments carry meaning. This animation style reinforces the idea that SLURRY is built on the energy of everyday life, quiet but full of momentum.

Color Story: Urban Calm Meets Street Energy

The brand’s color palette blends industrial neutrals with urban warmth. Earthy browns reference roasted beans and street-side coffee. Soft creams and muted yellows echo the sunlight hitting old walls or morning street vendors’ carts. Dark greens and deep blacks bring contrast, evoking the shadows between narrow alleys and the intensity of robusta itself.

Each color is selected to bring familiarity and emotional grounding, not loud saturation. The palette supports the brand’s visual direction — calm enough to feel modern and premium, but warm enough to reveal cultural depth.

Brand Voice: Honest, Direct, and Human

SLURRY speaks the way the city lives: straight to the point, honest, and unpretentious. The tone of voice avoids flowery language or complicated metaphors. Instead, it captures clarity, emotion, and grounded realism. Key phrases emphasize movement, connection, and simplicity:

“Coffee, the way you live.”

“Fast. Real. Made for your rhythm.”

“For mornings that don’t slow down.”

This voice reflects the spirit of the people SLURRY serves — busy, creative, practical, and constantly adapting.

Experience & Service Philosophy

SLURRY’s service philosophy mirrors its design philosophy: simplified but purposeful. Whether it’s a canned drink from a convenience store or a slow brew at home, the brand aims to create experiences that respect the customer’s time and lifestyle. It doesn’t exaggerate itself. It doesn’t make promises it can’t keep. It simply delivers quality coffee in forms that fit modern routines.

The brand imagines itself as a small companion during someone’s day — the can in a backpack, the tin on a kitchen shelf, the cup in a photo someone’s too busy to caption. SLURRY wants to exist naturally within people’s lives, not disrupt them.

The Story Behind the Story

What makes SLURRY meaningful is its foundation in real inspiration. The brand is built not on trends, but on real scenes observed daily: the way workers balance iced coffee on their motorbike seats, the way friends chat over street brews, the way commuters grab a bottled drink on their way to work. These moments, though simple, define the soul of urban Vietnam. They are imperfect but beautiful — and that is the mood SLURRY embraces.

The project seeks to reinterpret street culture through a modern lens: clean layouts, refined typography, and curated illustrations. It respects its roots while moving forward, carrying both local identity and contemporary design logic.

Conclusion: Where SLURRY Belongs

SLURRY is built from the small movements of everyday life — busy mornings, short pauses that keep us going. The brand tells its story through the rhythm of the city: fast, direct, unpolished, but undeniably real. From the way it’s mixed and served to every graphic detail, everything embodies the philosophy of “simplified but purposeful,” ensuring that anyone can see a part of themselves in it.

And when the project is complete, what remains is more than just a refined visual identity. It’s the realization that SLURRY exists exactly where it should: among people who live, work, hustle, rest, and write their own stories every day. It becomes a quiet companion to their routines — a piece of the city they can hold in their hands.

CREDIT

  • Agency/Creative: Huy Hoang
  • Article Title: Huy Hoang Reimagines Slurry with a Street-Inspired Coffee Identity Built for Real Urban Living
  • Organisation/Entity: Freelance
  • Project Type: Product
  • Project Status: Published
  • Agency/Creative Country: Vietnam
  • Agency/Creative City: Hồ Chí Minh
  • Market Region: Asia
  • Project Deliverables: Branding, Design, Graphic Design, Identity System, Packaging Design, Product Photography
  • Industry: Food/Beverage
  • Keywords: SLURRY COFFEE

  • Credits:
    Creative Direction & Designer: Truong Hoang Huy

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