Cafecito Tradition
Lita’s is a café and bakery concept inspired by my Costa Rican grandmother and the warmth of her kitchen. The brand identity was designed to capture her vibrant spirit, hospitality, and love for sharing food with others. With a focus on Costa Rican tradition, the café embraces cafecito, the cherished ritual of gathering over coffee and pastries with family and friends. The goal was to create a visual identity that feels colorful, inviting, and comforting, while introducing the flavors and traditions of Costa Rica to a broader audience.
The Challenge
The challenge was to design a brand that honored personal heritage while still feeling approachable and engaging to those unfamiliar with Costa Rican culture. The visual identity needed to reflect my grandmother’s feminine and lively personality, while also communicating the café’s role as a welcoming gathering space. The creative direction leaned into pastel colors, playful typography, and patterns inspired by my grandmother’s personality, all balanced with warm and approachable elements that create a sense of comfort and belonging.
The Results
The resulting identity is a celebration of Costa Rican tradition and hospitality. A colorful palette mirrors the vibrancy of the culture while ensuring the café feels lively and welcoming. Typography pairs soft, friendly letterforms with expressive accents to echo my grandmother’s warmth and energy. Together, these elements create a cohesive brand that feels both modern and rooted in family. Lita’s becomes more than a café, it is envisioned as a space for community, connection, and cultural exchange, where every detail is designed to evoke the comfort of home.
A Note
From the Designer
Designing Lita’s was especially meaningful to me, as it allowed me to honor my grandmother and the traditions she passed down through her kitchen. Every detail, from the pastel colors to the playful typography, was chosen to reflect her warmth, generosity, and spirit. This project was not only about creating a visual identity, but also about preserving and sharing a piece of my family’s culture with others. For me, Lita’s is more than just a café concept; it is a celebration of heritage, memory, and the power of food to bring people together.