Caleb Sun

  • 5539 Cafe

    Pop-up Identity

  • A down-to-earth, place-based identity for a cafe pop-up hosted by and for friends.

  • When my good friend Hikari approached me to do a casual home cafe where we invite a few good friends over and have good coffee and matcha, I knew this would be one of the few chances we'd be able to do something like this ever. So, to make it a little more special, we decided to go all out on the identity of our little event, transforming what could've been a casual hangout to something alive, that highlights the uniqueness of the time and space we were filling with lattes and daifuku and all the people we love.

  • Time
    Role
    Credits

  • 3 weeks
    Sole Designer
    Photography — Emma Tong

  • A logo pulling forms from the unique number plaque.
  • Handmade linoleum printing ensures that no one cup that is the same.

Negotiating a classic fixture of Pittsburgh tradition with modern aspirations.

Phipps has captured the imaginations of visitors with beautiful flower shows and seasonal exhibitions since their inception in the 1800s. While the botanical garden still brings joy and wonder to the city with currated shows, Phipps is also turning towards the future, considering how the conservatory can play a role in leading sustainability efforts in the region, as well as serving the community through adult education and community programs.

Rebranding the Phipps posed a unique challenge in that the gardens were not shying away from their historical role. They will always be a garden respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, they just do more now. This rebrand hinged on that idea of "doing more", from visual identity to web architecture.

Identity
A challenge that Phipps identified with their diverse programming was that most of their visitors were simply unaware of