Špork - Spirits for Lifehunters

Špork Spirits is a line of distillates created for a very special occasion – the opening of a restaurant Red Stag right in the heart of historical Prague, in Špork Palace. The product is available for degustation solely in Red Stag, and the design had to emphasize its rarity and uniqueness. It had to be modern, yet at the same time, bear the reminiscence of the rich past associated with the brand.

Our work began by gathering historical information on Špork palace and its owners. We translated some of these facts into visual symbols and combined them with the elements of contemporary reality. This is how the realistic illustration and abstract vector graphics came together on one label. Our design also had to accommodate different color codes for each of the twelve flavors within the Špork line.

The unusual shield-like shape of the front label was inspired by the coat of arms of Sweerts-Špork - the aristocratic family, who lived in the Špork palace from the 17th century. The label does not simply imitate the Sweerts-Špork’s coat of arms – it also brings out the characteristic features of the brand itself. The realistic illustration of the stag refers to the paintings of the 17th century and brings us back to Antonin Špork, who, for a long time, was a patron of Czech artists. Apart from arts, Špork also enjoyed hunting and founded a hunting society in 1695. This inspired the slogan - “Crafted For Lifehunters”. It expresses the key message of the brand. Even though hunting is not as popular as it used to be in Špork’s times, its metaphorical meaning remains strong. Lifehunters are those who have clear aims in front of them and are not afraid to overcome obstacles on their way to victory. The main logo – an implication of deer antlers above the letter “Š” speaks to the same thematic.

The result of our work is a set of labels that brings together the modern approach of Red Stag and the historicity associated with Sweerts-Špork family in a unique serving.