popcorner visual identity

popcorner, a new food truck venture specialising in gourmet burgers, coffee and of course popcorn, approached me for a quick branding project. The goal was to create a simple but vibrant visual identity that would appeal to urban food enthusiasts and coffee aficionados alike.

For the logo I used Motter Ombra — a very distinct typeface created by Austrian designer Othmar Motter of Vorarlberger Grafik in 1972 and distributed by Berthold Fototypes (as film type) and Letraset (as dry-transfer type). There are various unauthorized digitizations and interpretations. The official digitisation by Motter Fonts (2008) was made with the help of Jan Kammann.

The logo/wordmark is highly modular and can be used both as a single-line version and a three-level stacked version.

The red-striped pattern commonly seen on popcorn containers has its origins in nostalgia and the traditional design of old-fashioned circus tents and carnival imagery. The red and white stripes evoke a sense of classic Americana, often associated with fairs, circuses, and early movie theaters.

This design has become iconic, creating a visual association with fun, entertainment, and a classic experience. The use of red stripes also helps the containers stand out, making them instantly recognisable as popcorn holders. The pattern has become so ingrained in popular culture that it’s now a standard design for popcorn containers, reinforcing the connection between popcorn and entertainment.