Tranquilitea
A bright and festive packaging project for a fictional small-batch rooibos tea brand, completed during my internship at Lovelab.
Project Overview
Tranquilitea is a fictional South African tea brand that celebrates small-batch blends and handcrafted care. During my internship at Lovelab, I was tasked with creating illustrations and packaging designs for two rooibos-based teas. The aim was to communicate a sense of natural wellness, local flair, and vibrant personality—something that would appeal both locally and to an international market.
The two tea blends were:
Rooibos, Chamomile & Lavender
Rooibos, Coconut & Hibiscus
The visual direction needed to feel handmade, fresh, and festive, while leaving room for future product expansion.
My Responsibilities Included:
Developing two complementary but distinct illustrations based on each tea blend’s ingredients
Incorporating natural textures and hand-drawn elements to evoke a sense of craft and care
Designing packaging layouts for each blend, including all brand storytelling and product details
Proposing a simple typographic treatment as a placeholder logo
Ensuring the overall look communicated a South African identity in a subtle, accessible way
What I Created
Each tea blend was illustrated with a bright, botanical composition that reflected its ingredients—lavender sprigs, chamomile flowers, and rooibos leaves for one; hibiscus blossoms, coconut, and rooibos for the other. The illustrations were designed to work as a pair but also stand alone, setting a tone for a cohesive future range.
The packaging layout balanced detailed product information (like preparation instructions, nutritional table, and brand story) with generous white space and considered hierarchy. A handmade, honest tone ran throughout—mirroring the small-batch ethos of the brand.
What I Learned
This project deepened my skills in illustration and packaging design, especially within the context of a fictional brand with big aspirations. I learned how to build a strong visual language that could scale, how to convey locality without clichés, and how to bring warmth and personality into every detail—from line texture to ingredient list.
