Building a brand identity for No Spirit
Case Study
No Spirit
Client Overview
No Spirit is a soda brand specializing in ready to drink, zero proof alternatives to classic mixed drinks, like whiskey and cola, rum and cola, gin and tonic, and more.
As alcohol sales decline and the non alcoholic market accelerates, No Spirit saw a clear opportunity. They had a distinct product and a story worth telling. What they needed was a visual and verbal identity system built to grow with them.
Scope of work
- Visual Identity System
- Badge Kit
- Typography
- Color System
- Pattern
- Social Media Design
- Packaging
- Display Design
- POS Advertising
The Challenge
We built the brand for No Spirit from the ground up. That meant creating enough strategic and visual assets to make the brand competitive from day one.
Shelf space is crowded. Attention is limited. And while the NA category is growing, the visual language is surprisingly narrow. Most products fall into three camps, fruity mocktails, NA seltzers, and NA beer. The design often feels safe, minimal, or clinical.
No Spirit filled a gap on the shelf. The branding had to do the same. It needed to sit comfortably in the non-alcoholic aisle while clearly signaling something different, something bold, something more fun.
Stratgegic Insight
Abstaining from alcohol is often framed as restraint. Many NA brands reinforce that narrative with muted palettes and restrained design systems.
We saw an opportunity to shift the energy.
If the category feels clinical, we bring character.
If the shelf feels predictable, we create surprise.
If not drinking is seen as less fun, we design a brand that proves otherwise.
The Solution
We intentionally broke a few unspoken rules.
While many traditional alcohol brands have moved away from mascots, we leaned in. We created a cartoon vagabond ghost as the face of the brand. Later named Spencer Spirit through a social media contest, he became the anchor of the system.
We paired that personality with unexpected taglines like:
- Drink Irresponsibly
- Drink and Drive with No Spirit
The message was clear. This is zero proof. You can relax.
Visually, we designed the cans to echo the confidence of craft beer packaging. At a party, the can blends in. It gives sober consumers something that feels inclusive, not isolating.
Each flavor brought Spencer into a new setting:
- Cowboy Cola, riding horseback
- Grandma Tonic, a granny on a rascal scooter jumping through a ring of fire
- Caribbean Cola, sipping on a deserted island
To support flexibility without sacrificing consistency, we built a structured badge kit around the primary logo. Every extension used the same stroke weights, color swatches, and typographic treatments. The system allowed for play while protecting recognition.
We collaborated with local photographer Blake Jones for elevated product photography, and partnered with Calliope Films to produce a one minute social spot that amplified the brand’s humor and confident irreverence.
Merch Matters
Brand presence extends beyond packaging.
We equipped No Spirit with a full suite of branded merchandise and market displays to support weekly sales at Palafox Market and local activations.
Deliverables included:
- T shirts
- Dad hats
- Stickers
- Coasters
- Can coolers
- A frame signage
- Table cover and tent banner
Every touchpoint reinforced the same visual language, same humor, same clarity of purpose.
The Results
No Spirit launched with a complete visual identity system and a bold verbal identity that left no confusion about its mission.
Make not drinking fun.
The brand immediately stood apart on the shelf and online. It entered the market with confidence, cohesion, and a personality consumers could recognize at a glance.
Closing Insight
When a category feels restrained, intention becomes a competitive advantage.
No Spirit proves that zero proof does not mean zero personality. With the right system, you can challenge expectations, build community, and design a brand that feels just as good in your hand as it does on the shelf.
Clarity builds trust. Personality builds connection.
And when both work together, brands do more than launch. They lead.
