AN&CO

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AN&CO

AN&CO is a cutting-edge creative brand specializing in fresh and premium sweet azuki paste. Based in London, it’s a project that we have been working on together with our friend Satsuki Toyama. Our mission is to bring the traditional Japanese delicacy of Anko to the Western world with a modern twist.

Anko, also known as Sweet Azuki Paste, is a staple ingredient in Japanese pastries and traditional desserts, having been enjoyed for centuries by Japanese people. Using only the finest azuki beans sourced from Hokkaido, we take pride in producing fresh and high-quality anko in London.

For the branding of AN&CO, the aim is to strike a balance between the pop and edginess of London's creative culture and the simplicity and elegance of Japanese aesthetics. Because Japanese traditional typography is mainly vertical, the challenge is to merge vertical Japanese typography and horizontal English typography. Its products and sweets are beautifully art directed and photographed. The identity is referenced from Japanese crest Kamon design and British crest and animal branding. Unlike traditional Japanese sweets brands, the website showcases a dynamic 3D animation of playful pink azuki beans in motion. The result is a visually striking and contemporary brand that sets itself apart from traditional Japanese confectionery branding in both Japan and Europe.