Pickles Café (Student Project)

Designer: Brooke Gabrek
Project Type: Student Project
School: Ball State University
Course: Visual Communication
Tutor: Shantanu Suman
Location: Muncie, United States
Packaging Contents: Salad, Sandwiches, Soups, and Dessert (Pies)
Packaging Substrate / Materials: Paper
Printing Process: Digital Printing

My research process started with the restaurant, Pickles Café, located on the outskirts of Fort Wayne, Indiana in a small town called Dunfee. Pickles Café is a mom and pop café, attached to an antique store, with a rustic and vintage atmosphere. I drew inspiration from the 1940s era and elements from their store, which led to my design solutions for the identity redesign. Once the new identity was established, I applied it to multiple applications including to-go containers and a menu design.

Specifically for the to-go container packaging, I developed an original hand illustrated floral pattern, which was inspired by floral patterns featured on curtains and tablecloths in the café. Currently, Pickles Café uses styrofoam to-go containers that do not showcase their products. For my design solution, I am adding a window to showcase the foods. I created three packaging shapes that focus on each type of product that is served: salads and sandwiches, soups, and pies.

What’s Unique?
The to-go container packaging for Pickles Café is unique because of the original hand illustrated floral pattern highlighting specific elements within the store.