Fresh From The Field: Golden – By MAKEBARDO
A bright, thoughtful brand identity by DA Friend MAKEBARDO for Golden, celebrating the power of honest ingredients through a visual language inspired by beehives, books, and the joy of a well-made drink.
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The brief
Golden is a low-cal soda sweetened with honey, flavoured with fruit. It offers a functional, healthy alternative to traditional soft drinks by pairing premium honey with locally sourced, nutrient-rich ingredients—avoiding refined sugars entirely. Golden isn’t just a drink; it is a celebration of what honest, hardworking ingredients can achieve and a reflection of New Zealand’s exceptional produce.
The design response
The design strategy captures the energetic spirit of a sweet drink while differentiating itself from standard “guilt-free” options. The visual identity is inspired by two distinct elements: beehives (representing quality beekeeping) and education (symbolised by book spines and the pursuit of knowledge about bees). Drawing on the stacking structure shared by both hives and books, the identity utilises lines as a primary visual tool. This creates a new, accessible design language that feels both premium and familiar, challenging stereotypes and moving beyond the binary of healthy vs. tasty.
The design team
Photography by Golden
https://www.makebardo.com/
Instagram – @makebardo
The client team
Golden
Instagram – @drink.golden
https://staygolden.co.nz/
