Snake Oil & Sundries

INTRODUCTION

Snake Oil & Sundries is a small craft soda company based in Wellington New Zealand.  Their two main products are the Tonic syrup and the Tonic soda, both products are designed to be used in high-end bars and restaurants for both drinking and mixing with high-end spirits.

THE ASSIGNMENT

They have approached me to design their company logo and a product label which appeal to the high-end market maintaining the feel of the small craft soda company.

THE  CONCEPTION

I wanted to incorporate the idea of “deceiving”, it relates back to the 19th century Snake oil where it was sold as the cure to diseases but in reality, it has no real medicinal value.  Stylistically we wanted to keep the 19th-century aesthetics but we didn’t necessarily want it to look very old, rather we wanted something in between historic and modern.  The product label needed to be as strong and interesting as some of the amazing spirits on the back shelf.

THE SOLUTION

After careful consideration, I have created a full logo with the company name and a monogram logo which can be used in a confined space.  For the product label, I have illustrated the Snake oil salesman with a devil on his back which signifies that what he is doing is not legitimate.  The illustration helps the product to be more visible from the distance and make it more memorable.