A celebration of Japanese sake
Tippsy, a leading online retailer of Japanese sake in the United States, celebrated its inaugural “Tippsy Sake Fest” on June 1, 2024, at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. As the company’s creative director, Hayataro Sakitsu of Studio Elepaio was thrilled to be involved in the event, which brought together sake beginners, enthusiasts, industry professionals and producers for a day filled with tastings, education and cultural experiences.
Logo design
The centerpiece of the Tippsy Sake Fest logo is a playful illustration of a mermaid enjoying a chilled glass of sake. This image, originally created for a Tippsy tote bag in 2021, was adapted to become the main visual for the festival. The mermaid embodies the refreshing and enjoyable qualities of sake, inviting attendees to embark on a fun and flavorful journey. The logo was prominently featured throughout the event, from the entrance signage to the complimentary loop bags given to all attendees.
Banner design
To create an immersive experience for attendees, we designed themed booths that showcased the diverse world of sake. Building on Tippsy’s existing “Team Chill” (cold sake) and “Team Warm” (warmed sake) concepts, we introduced two new themes: “Team Bubbly” (sparkling sake) and “Team Cloudy” (cloudy sake). Each theme was accompanied by custom illustrations that captured the unique characteristics of the sake style.
These booths offered a wide variety of sake, including chilled, warm, cloudy (nigori and doburoku) and sparkling sake. The diverse selection allowed attendees, many of whom were sake beginners, to explore and enjoy the rich variety that sake offers.
A new annual tradition
The first-ever Tippsy Sake Fest was a huge success, attracting over 350 attendees and garnering sponsorship from 10 companies, including renowned brands like Dassai and Hakutsuru. The event’s popularity has set the stage for it to become an annual tradition, with plans to host the festival every year from 2025 onwards, promising even more excitement and growth.