Firstep
Firstep is a Central European contract brewery releasing two new beers every month. The challenge was to create a brand that could handle constant variation without losing coherence.
I designed a typographic-led identity system that allows every release to look different while remaining clearly part of the same brand.
The liquid logo captures the brewery's core idea: fresh, hop-forward beer meant to be enjoyed young.
To extend this language, I developed Firstype, a custom rounded typeface that acts as the backbone of the identity. Each beer release transforms the typeface through distortion, compression or expansion, allowing every label to develop its own character while staying recognisably Firstep.
The packaging system was designed for visibility in crowded retail fridges. Two cans placed next to each other form one oversized Firstep logo, turning the product itself into a recognizable shelf system.
Fresh releases use a colour logic based on beer styles, making the range easy to navigate. Limited barrel-aged beers shift the system into a darker, more experimental direction while still referencing the same typographic foundation.
After two years of monthly releases, Firstep introduced its first permanently available beer. Unlike previous batches, this IPA was designed to stand apart from typical core-range craft beers, both in taste and appearance. A heavier use of hops increases aroma and flavour intensity, while the packaging uses holographic foil that reflects rainbow colours under artificial fridge lighting, making the can stand out among standard labels.
Over two years, the brand has grown from a local project into an international presence. More than 50 unique releases, collaborations with 18 breweries across Europe, and appearances at festivals from Prague to Portugal, Denmark to Belgium. In 2025, Firstep was recognised as the Best Slovak Beer on Untappd and won Best IPA and Best in Show at the Central European Brewers Conference.
The result is a brand built on structured flexibility, able to evolve with the brewery while maintaining clarity and recognition.
Identity system
Custom lettering
Custom type
Packaging system Visual communication
Shoot me a river – Photography