ABOUT

The Brief:
The problem at hand was the lack of professional visual branding for Lilly's Snow Cones, a business owned by a young woman with Down syndrome, and the absence of employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the industry. This poses a challenge as it perpetuates stereotypes and hinders their potential for success, making it crucial to create a visually appealing and inclusive brand identity that breaks barriers, empowers individuals with disabilities, and encourages other businesses to consider inclusive employment practices.

Concept:
The whole idea behind the visual branding for Lilly's Snow Cones is celebrating inclusivity and championing equal opportunities in the business world. Lilly's Snow Cones is owned by a fantastic young woman with Down syndrome, and it's all about showing the world that determination knows no bounds. Our main goal was to create a super professional visual brand that perfectly captured the essence of the business, while also breaking stereotypes and empowering people with disabilities.

Execution:
When it came to bringing Lilly's Snow Cones to life through visual branding, we made sure to truly understand the unique identity of the business and the dreams of its owner. We dove deep into the process, working closely with Lilly and her awesome team to really get their vision, values, and enthusiasm for their snow cone venture. This hands-on approach allowed us to create a visual language that would not only resonate with their target audience but also the wider community.

We kicked things off by designing a super cool logo that perfectly captured the playful and joyful vibes of Lilly's Snow Cones. The logo is all about using vibrant colors—Lilly's absolute favorites—and fluid shapes to symbolize the refreshing nature of their products and the energetic spirit of Lilly herself. We also made sure the typography was friendly and approachable, giving it that extra touch of personality.

Taking things further, we developed a comprehensive visual system that showcases the different flavors in a really fun way. We created these adorable flavor icons, or as we like to call them, "flavor friends," in a cute Kawaii illustration style. These playful illustrations don't just make the menu look adorable, they also serve a practical purpose. Anyone can order from the menu, even if they can't read the words. It's all about promoting independence, and the flavor friends are used on the syrup bottles and order slips so that even staff who can't read words can identify the flavors and start recognizing the words too. Plus, they help reinforce the idea that "we're more alike than different."

From visual design to signage, social media graphics to the website, we made sure everything was visually consistent and appealing. The design elements incorporated illustrations of snow cones, cheerful patterns, and inclusive imagery, perfectly reflecting the business's core values and its commitment to inclusivity. Final deliverables included: custom logo design, visual identity, custom font, brand icons representing snow cone flavors, creative direction, and website design.

Results:
The visual branding for Lilly's Snow Cones has made a huge impact, both on the business itself and the wider community. By giving Lilly's Snow Cones a professional visual identity, we've helped them stand out in a competitive market, attract more customers, and establish their credibility. This isn't just your average snow cone stand anymore!

But the impact goes way beyond business. By showcasing a business owned by a remarkable young woman with Down syndrome, we've challenged society's norms and perceptions about disability. The visual branding has become a symbol of empowerment, smashing down barriers and inspiring others with disabilities to chase their entrepreneurial dreams.

Not only that, but Lilly's Snow Cones has also created employment opportunities for people with disabilities, which has brought greater awareness to the incredible capabilities and untapped potential of this talent pool. By visually promoting inclusivity, we've encouraged other businesses to consider employing individuals with disabilities, fostering a workforce that's more diverse and welcoming.

The project has received widespread attention and received heaps of positive feedback from the design community and the general public. It's been a powerful reminder that everyone deserves a professional visual brand, no matter their abilities. Through our collaboration with Lilly's Snow Cones, we've been able to promote values like inclusivity, equality, and empowerment, making a genuine impact in the social good category.