Barnyard Brewery

Beer Label and beer can designs are something that I have a keen interest in. I love the new wave of strange, quirky, bizarre or simply slick and bold designs we are seeing these days among the smaller and younger breweries.

For Barnyard Brewery I wanted something that I hadn’t really seen on the shelves of my local store. Tasked with keeping it minimal and simple, I decided to focus on line art for the icon and details. Then simply pair each flavor up with one of three main brand colors to easily distinguish them. We were all quite pleased with how these designs turned out. Also, the three flavors being named for different species of owl is a fun detail.

Brief / Challenge

Barnyard Brewery is a craft beer startup that wanted to launch with a visual identity that felt fresh, bold, and a little unexpected. The ask was deceptively simple: create a brand that’s minimal yet memorable, something that stands out in the ever-growing craft-beer space without feeling overdone. On top of that, the packaging needed to clearly communicate different beer flavors in a way that’s both functional (on-shelf distinction) and beautifully designed.

Role

As lead designer at Érimón Studios, I was responsible for:

Defining the core brand identity (logo, visual tone)
Designing the beer can / label system for multiple flavors
Developing a color system to clearly differentiate beer varieties
Creating minimal line-art iconography to reflect the quirky but clean aesthetic

Process

Concept & Ideation
I started with research into current craft beer visual trends, especially smaller breweries that push boundaries with bold or quirky packaging.
I brainstormed brand directions that could feel minimal and refined but still playful — something that would feel at home on the shelf, but also in a design-forward boutique store.
Icon & Logo Development
I settled on simple line-art icons, drawing directly from the idea of “barnyard” while keeping things abstract enough that it wouldn’t lean too rustic or illustrative.
For each beer flavor, I developed a unique owl species motif — a fun, unexpected detail that adds character but doesn’t clutter.
Color Palette Strategy
Rather than overly complex visual systems, I chose three distinct base colors — one for each flavor — that are bold, saturated, and immediately visibly different.
These colors maintain a minimal feel, but create a clear visual hierarchy and instant recognition on shelf.
Packaging Design
I designed clean beer labels with the line-art icon and flavor name, combining minimal typography with the icon.
The packaging system (cans) is consistent: the same layout structure, but swapping out the brand color and owl species illustration per flavor, making each variant distinct yet unified.
Refinement & Feedback
Through iterative reviews, I refined the line weights, the scale of the owl icons, and the balance between negative space and design elements.
I also tested how the labels would look on physical cans — making sure the icons remained legible and the color differentiation worked in real life.

Solution / Outcome

The result is a minimalist yet character-rich brand identity for Barnyard Brewery. The line-art icons — especially the owl species — inject a playful, slightly mysterious touch, while the three-colour system ensures each beer flavor is instantly distinguishable. The overall design feels clean and modern, but with just enough quirk to feel like something you haven’t seen before on the shelf.

The labels are elegant and functional: the visual system is simple but flexible, offering clear coherence across the different flavors, and giving the brand room to grow without needing radical redesigns.

Impact (Design-Led)

Barnyard Brewery launched with a striking identity that feels premium but not overly serious.
The packaging system supports quick recognition: customers can easily pick different flavors because the icons and color codes are consistent and distinct.
The minimal design philosophy keeps production costs manageable (fewer printing complexities), while still feeling thoughtfully crafted.
This identity gives Barnyard Brewery a strong visual presence in a crowded craft beer market — appealing to design-conscious drinkers and beer fans alike.

Lessons Learned & Best Practices

Less can be more: A minimal design approach can still have strong character — line-art icons and restrained color make a big impression without noise.
Use color strategically: Limiting to a handful of strong, distinct colors helps differentiate variants simply but effectively.
Iconography with meaning: Choosing a motif (in this case, owls) that ties into brand narrative adds depth without clutter.
Test in real-world context: Seeing how the label works on a physical can (or mock-up) is crucial to ensuring legibility and visual impact.
Design for scalability: A simple system can accommodate future flavors or expansions by reusing core visual elements (icons, layout, colors).