Visual Works / Editorial Storytelling
On the countless reasons behind a single glass of cocktail
An illustrated guide to finding the right drink for every mood and moment.
Overview
More Than a Collection of Recipes
People choose cocktails for many reasons: to celebrate, unwind, spend time with someone, or simply enjoy a particular flavor.
This editorial project reorganizes cocktail information around the drinker’s mood, preferences, and occasion. Rather than asking readers to begin with expert knowledge, the book helps them discover a drink through familiar experiences.
- Role
- Editorial Design, Illustration
- Duration
- Sep-Dec 2024
- Tools
- Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign
- Format
- Cocktail Guidebook
The Question
How Can Beginners Find the Right Cocktail?
Traditional cocktail guides often begin with spirits, techniques, and technical terminology. This can make cocktail culture feel complicated or exclusive to beginners.
The project began with a different question:
How can cocktail information be organized around the person choosing the drink?
- Mood
- Taste
- Occasion
- Sweetness
- Alcohol Level
Content Strategy
Choosing a Cocktail for the Moment
Each cocktail is introduced as a possible match for a particular feeling or situation, not simply as a recipe.
Practical information such as sweetness, alcohol content, ingredients, and preparation is paired with descriptive keywords. This allows readers to compare drinks intuitively and discover one that fits their current mood.
- A Drink to Celebrate
- A Drink After a Long Day
- A Drink for a Quiet Evening
- A Drink to Share
- A Drink for Trying Something New
Information System
Making Cocktail Knowledge Approachable
A consistent information hierarchy was developed so that readers could understand and compare cocktails without prior knowledge.
Simple rating scales communicate alcohol content and sweetness, while repeated page structures make the recipes easy to scan.
- 01Cocktail Name
- 02Alcohol Level
- 03Sweetness
- 04Flavor Keywords
- 05Ingredients
- 06Preparation
- 07Recommended Mood or Occasion
Illustration System
Giving Each Cocktail a Visual Character
Original line illustrations highlight the glass, ingredients, garnish, and personality of each cocktail.
A consistent line weight creates unity throughout the publication, while hand-drawn details introduce a casual and personal tone. The illustrations make each drink recognizable without relying on photography.
Editorial Design
A Guidebook Designed for Exploration
The publication uses a flexible editorial grid that balances illustrations, ratings, recipes, and descriptive keywords.
Each spread works as an individual cocktail guide, while the repeated structure creates continuity across the book. Readers can follow the original sequence or browse freely according to their interests.
Exhibition
Extending the Book into a Physical Experience
The publication was presented in an exhibition, allowing visitors to browse cocktails through familiar moods, preferences, and everyday occasions.
The illustrations and visual rating system provided accessible entry points for visitors with little knowledge of cocktails, extending the book from an informational object into an audience-centered editorial experience.
Outcome
Finding a Reason for a Cocktail
The completed book reframes cocktail selection as a personal experience shaped by taste, emotion, and occasion.
By combining editorial design, original illustration, and information visualization, the project makes cocktail culture more approachable. Rather than prescribing what readers should drink, it helps them discover a cocktail that feels right for their moment.