MUST LOVE DOGS & COFFEE
Danny Durkan for Lucky Lab - 2025
Jumping at the chance to have some fun in the world of hot bean water, I decided to go full grind on a selection of designs for Lucky Lab in Austin. This project is a self-directed creative exercise —grounded in playful visuals, canine charm, and a splash of memes.
From coffee bags to mugs, merch to matcha, and a little OOH, these concepts pull inspiration from award-winning packaging design trends of the past, mixing a variety of my favorites together. Mock-ups were created with Illustrator & Photoshop including generative elements from MidJourney, and brought to life with LUMA Dream Machine.
PACKAGE CONCEPT 1: ARTIST SERIES
Pups & Painters from the Lucky Lab Community
The idea is simple: work with local artists to produce a collection of coffee bags featuring artistic takes on familiar faces seen around Lucky Lab. From the shop mascot, to customer pups & celebri-dogs, doing an Artist Series would open up a world of opportunity to engage with the community & show love to those who support the business. It creates a "collect them all" angle, and encourages customers to stay tuned in for chance to see their pup presented on a bag of beans.
For a visual reference, this design pays homage to an award-winning layout inspired by Five Senses.
For a visual reference, this design pays homage to an award-winning layout inspired by Five Senses.
PACKAGE CONCEPT 2: SKETCHBOOK STYLE
Not a Pattern, But Close
For this design, I wanted to reference the "sketchbook" indie art elements that Lucky Lab currently utilizes in some of their branding, like the Austin skyline & coffee shop store front. I pulled a few images from their socials for visual reference - the coffee truck, cup & saucer - and added a few more that fit the vision. All in all, it would be super easy to iterate on this style and re-use the graphic elements across other merch, packaging, and even digital. Add a little quirky animation to the sun or some steam rising from the cup, and boom, you've got an email graphic.
Aesthetically, these designs are a nod to one of my favorite coffee bags from Olympia - though theirs is a bit more Memphis and a little less Super Bad.
PACKAGE CONCEPT 3: AURA ALIGNMENT
Center Yourself Bro, Just Rub Some Crystals Together or Something
Going out on a limb to do something WAY different than what Lucky Lab might normally think of. These bags are an attempt to lock in, rizz max, and uhh... aura farm. If you don't know what any of that means, don't worry, after a cup or two of this brew we'll go over the basics.
This style is a minimalist, borderline anti-design take on pop slang, combining tonal brand color gradients and metallic, "holographic" text that would make the packaging jump out at you, kinda like that jaguar on your ayahuasca retreat.
I didn't reference any favorite coffee for this one - it just kinda came to me in a dream.
This style is a minimalist, borderline anti-design take on pop slang, combining tonal brand color gradients and metallic, "holographic" text that would make the packaging jump out at you, kinda like that jaguar on your ayahuasca retreat.
I didn't reference any favorite coffee for this one - it just kinda came to me in a dream.
MATCHA, MATCHA, MATCHA!
There's a "Brady Bunch" Reference in there Somewhere
Matcha is one of those things that has really taken the coffee shop scene over recently. I love the vibe of 70s hand drawn text and groovy type, so using a vintage amber weck jar just fit the bill for some Matcha packaging. I think the only thing that is missing might be some flower-power style daisies or a leaf that could tie it all together & function as another brand element.
JUST FOR FUN: BILLBOARD
Lucky is in The Lab - Let 'em Cook
When I think of the word "lab," I usually think of dogs. The second place my mind jumps to is being a mad scientist. Sugar, spice, and everything nice, Professor X, etc. So, that's where I went with this quick billboard mockup. What better way to announce some fresh visuals, new products, and get people talking than a goofy, fun advert?
GALLERY - PLEASE NOTE ALL TEXT IS FPO, COFFEE TYPES ARE COMPLETELY FICTIONAL & NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF FINISHED PACKAGING. THESE ARE JUST FOR FUN!
"Artist Series" Packaging with 3 Unique Pup Paintings
"Sketchbook Style" Packaging in Brand Colors
"Matcha Matcha Matcha!" Latch Top Weck Jar
"Matcha Matchat Matcha!" Tote
"Matcha Matcha Matcha!" T-Shirt
Sketchbook Style Mug & Box
Dark Aura Packaging Concept with Tonal Gradient & Metallic Lettering
Medium Aura Packaging Concept with Tonal Gradient & Metallic Lettering
