The logotype for the Cipher brand needed to be bold, but also able to work well with the mini-identities of the brews without competing. The association of ciphers with cryptology and puzzles, secret codes and languages, led me to create a logo that resembles (but is not actually) an ambigram; a word designed to read the same when flipped upside down. This visual cue is intrinsic to the branding of the brewery as an homage to cryptological puzzles, codes, intellectual games, and wordplay.

I wanted the visual identity of this brand to be as exciting as those of any standard craft brewery. This brand was challenging because it required me to not only create an identity for the brand as a whole, but also entire identities for each of the "brews" produced by the brewery.

For the brew identities, I chose to create Gumshoe Amber Ale, Skeleton Key Hoppy Pilsner, and Escape Room IPA. The primary color palette for the brand is a soft black  "Onyx," a gray called "Iron," a bronze color called "Antique," and an off-white named "Ivory." These colors are present in the brew identities, and each brew has its own distinct accent color. For the amber ale, it is a reddish-orange "Rust." For the hoppy pils, it's a shiny "Gold," and for the IPA, a vibrant green called "Digital." The colors punctuate the flavor profile of the brew. Each can design features a distinct pattern motif, a central vector illustrated logo, and a thematic back story.

Early sketches of the can designs show the progression of the concepts, though the broad strokes remained largely the same. The placement of the logo around the upper lip of the can helped open up the design and increased brand recognition with its prominence.  

Other collateral designed includes stationery, Brand Standards Manual, coasters, merchandise such as t-shirts, hoodies, and hats, responsive website design, and advertisements with the tagline "Decode Your Life." This tagline, paired with images of people enjoying life with Cipher Brew Works beverages, furthers the idea that life can be lived more fully without the constant presence of alcohol.