Grata Imports

Grata Imports approached me to develop its branding and packaging, reflecting its mission of curating premium Italian foods and beverages rarely found in the U.S. Our process began with a mood board to establish the brand’s tone and textures.

For the typography, we selected the Cavalcanti font, inspired by the simple, legible signage seen across Italy. This versatile font features numerous alternate characters, allowing for tailored styling to suit various projects. In the initial logo design, we incorporated a custom Grata-type logo with a wine bottle cleverly integrated into the negative space, reflecting the brand’s original focus on wine imports. However, with coffee now leading their import portfolio, we have designed a new logo to capture this shift.

The owners were particularly drawn to vintage Chinoiserie illustrations—a design style blending Western and Eastern influences. This fusion combines intricate Chinese motifs with European Rococo aesthetics, creating a unique, maximalist elegance through rich details and lacquered finishes.