Client Overview

Connect the Hops is a Pacific Northwest–based experiential event business that blends guided art classes with craft beer tastings at local breweries. The brand is built around creating memorable, social experiences where people can paint, sip, and genuinely connect in a laid-back, approachable environment.

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The Challenge

When Connect the Hops approached us, they had a great concept and a strong name—but zero visual identity to support it. Without a cohesive brand, it was difficult to communicate their quirky personality, stand out from the typical wine-centric paint-and-sip industry, or present themselves as a professional partner to local breweries.

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They needed a brand system that would:

• Stand apart from wine-focused paint-and-sip competitors

• Capture the fun, craft beer–driven, community-focused vibe at the heart of their events

• Appeal to breweries as a polished, reliable, collaboration-ready business

• Flex easily across signage, merchandise, tasting glasses, and digital marketing

 

Our job was to build that system from the ground up.

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The Process

Because Connect the Hops was starting from scratch, we began with a foundational discovery phase—digging into their story, values, tone, and audience. Through questionnaires and collaborative conversations, we pinpointed what made the experience unique: the love of local craft beer, the playful approach to art, and the mission to bring people together through shared creativity.

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With that clarity, we explored how hops, paint strokes, and PNW culture could combine into a compelling visual system. We developed mood boards, sketched early concepts, and built palette studies to identify an identity that felt warm, quirky, and energetic—yet polished enough to earn credibility with breweries and attendees.

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The Solution

We created a brand identity that blends the upbeat energy of painting with the craft beer culture that defines the Connect the Hops experience.

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The primary logo pairs a bold sans-serif “Connect The” with a hand-lettered “hops,” where the letter “p” transforms into a paintbrush—instantly merging the core elements of the brand. A custom hop-cone icon extends the system, giving the brand flexibility across applications such as etched tasting glasses, stickers, apparel, and digital touchpoints.

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The color palette draws inspiration from both beer and the Pacific Northwest:

• Deep maroon (Stout)

• Creamy yellow (Foam)

• Sage green (Dry Hop)

• Warm orange (Amber Ale)

• Moody blue-grey (Drizzle)

 

Paired with a clean sans-serif typeface for clarity and a handwritten accent for personality, the visual system translates seamlessly across print, merchandise, social graphics, and event signage.

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The Outcome

The new identity gave Connect the Hops its first fully realized visual brand—one that feels as fun, welcoming, and beer-loving as the events themselves. With a polished logo, crafted color palette, and flexible design system, the brand could finally show up consistently across every platform and touchpoint.

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The impact was immediate. Breweries saw a professional, trustworthy partner. Attendees connected instantly with the playful, community-driven vibe. And the founder gained a strong, cohesive identity that supports merchandise sales, event promotion, and long-term brand recognition.

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The brand now reflects the true heart of Connect the Hops—creativity, connection, and craft beer—and sets the stage for continued growth across the PNW and beyond.