Project Brief
Husband-and-wife team Ataç and Akgonca Besi left behind the Istanbul hustle in 2009 to establish their family-owned small batch brewery in Yesilyurt village. Inspired by craft brews around the world, Gara Guzu, or ‘kara kuzu’, means black sheep. It sounds different, pronounced with a Mugla accent. It’s born different, a pioneering Turkish local that offers the world a rebel spirit alongside local handmade quality, all natural ingredients and flavor.
The brand’s logo design has a prize by the Turkish Graphic Designers Community (GMK).
Challange:
Being a fan of the brand and its products (Blonde ale being my favorite), I was familiar with the attitude and sincerity of the owners already. They have a language I am familiar with; being the “Black Sheep” of the hird. I was first asked to design beer mats for the brand. I was so happy to find out that the two colors I chose (Flourescant green and orange) were the couple’s favorite colors; we warmed up very fast to work together.
Idea:
Contrast with beer labels; being masculin/male oriented, strong, dark etc, Gara Guzu has a way of witty and joyful vision. Being together with different sheep; it has it’s way of visual language, entertaining yet embracing the vareity.
Use of colors on a bar seemed a lot more inviting than other beer lables, also these mats are to be used no matter what the customer chooses to drink; they’ll serve the purpose: don’t wet the table! : )
Logo Design: Burcu Kayalar / Katalist
Illustration and Beer Mat design: Tolga Görgün
Beer mat designs for Gara Guzu :)
