Calcutta Kitchens

Collection of six jars of Indian simmer sauces with colorful, geometric background. The sauces include Makhani Tikka Simmer Sauce, Coconut & Fresh Coriander Simmer Sauce, Bengali Coconut Cardamom Simmer Sauce, Parisi Cashew Ginger Simmer Sauce, and others.

Calcutta Kitchens is an Indian sauce brand. In 2011, it was born in a home kitchen. Cooking flavorful meals was second nature to the founder. She wanted to find a healthy, quick, and easy way to feed her family while working full-time. Her sauces were created out of a love for her heritage and a personal need.

I was approached by the founder to create a logo and branding system. Her goal was to develop a professional visual presence to help expand her growing business. The challenge was to create a flexible brand that honored her Indian roots while fitting into the fast pace of American culture.

What I Did

Logo/Identity
Branding System
Creative Direction
Graphic Design
Package Design
Signage
Social Media Design
Marketing Collateral

Logo with yellow stylized flower above the text "Calcutta Kitchens" on a teal background with small star patterns.

The native hibiscus flower and energy of India were important elements the owner wanted to incorporate into her logo. I created a symbol that represents the flower and vibrancy of India. It's also a nod to the shape of the rice the owner cooks with. The typeface is a clean serif with a traditional and modern feel. It combines the notion of an authentic heritage while looking current and fresh.

A watercolor painting of a red and orange flower with green and black accents, showing petals, stamens, and pistils.
A stylized, abstract flower with teal elongated petals arranged in a circular pattern.
Yellow flower with elongated petals arranged in a circular pattern.
A color palette chart displaying various colors with their names, hexadecimal codes, and RGB values. The palette includes CK Blue, CK Pink, CK Yellow, CK Purple, CK Orange, CK Gray, CK Brown, and an additional darker gray.
Logo of Calcutta Kitchens with teal petal design and company name in black and dark brown text.

The brand identity I developed for Calcutta Kitchens is colorful and bold. It allows the versatility and vibrancy of each sauce inside of a clear jar to shine. The modern aesthetic of the packaging design is rich and vibrant. The hibiscus flower is subtly incorporated into the label background to add visual interest with meaning. The bright label design delivers a strong and impactful retail shelf experience.

A jar of Calcutta Kitchens Coconut & Fresh Coriander Simmer Sauce with a yellow lid and colorful label.
A jar of Calcutta Kitchens Parsi Cashew Ginger Simmer Sauce with purple and orange label.
Jar of Calcutta Kitchens Bengal Coconut Cardamom Simmer Sauce with a yellow and green label.
A jar of Calcutta Kitchens Makhani Tikka Simmer Sauce with a gold lid, red label, and green accents, described as mild creamy tomato Indian simmer sauce.
Person holding a jar of Bengali Coconut Cardamom Simmer Sauce over a white plate, with a bowl of salad, green peas, and various kitchen items on a white countertop.
Display of cilantro chutney jars and dishes with Indian food, including samosas, and shelves with various flavored chutney jars in a store.

The sauces evolved and expanded to a line of chutneys, showing the brand's flexibility.

A jar of Calcutta Kitchens cilantro chutney labeled 'Savory, Tangy & Spicy Cilantro Chutney,' with a description that it is made from fresh cilantro and perfect as a dip, drizzle, or marinade. The jar has a gold lid and a green label, and is placed against a green background with leafy cilantro illustrations.
A jar of Calcutta Kitchens Savory, Tangy & Spicy Cilantro Chutney with a green label and a gold lid, accompanied by a cilantro leaf graphic on a green background with a yellow circle and a green decorative panel.
A jar of Calcutta Kitchens tomato and garlic chutney on a wooden board, with a small glass bowl of chutney and a garlic clove on a green surface. In the background, there are tomatoes in a basket and a glass of water, with a blurred dark background.

Once the brand was established, I moved on to create a variety of marketing collateral. This included stickers, recipe cards, event promos, and social media advertising.

Colorful graphic with circles containing the phrases "share the love" and "CALCUTTA KITCHENS," along with flower symbols, on a yellow floral patterned background.
Multiple recipe cards from Calcutta Kitchens with colorful header labels, including Tofu Tikka Makhani, Chicken with Eggplant in Green Sauce, Coconut Rice with Kale, and Curry, on a light turquoise and white patterned background.
A flyer for Calcutta Kitchens Tasting Events featuring colorful spice containers, potatoes, and bowls of Indian dishes on a rustic dark wooden surface.

Today, the sauces can be found in pantries and storefronts across America. The key messaging is playful and encourages creativity and cooking, aiming to bring people together through food. It invites consumers to grab a sauce while imagining the culinary possibilities.

Interior of a craft or gift shop with a large wooden table, colorful chairs, a flower arrangement in a glass vase, shelves with paints and art supplies, art prints on the wall, and a window showing outdoor trees and buildings.
The image shows the storefront of Calcutta Kitchens, a chai, tiffin, and market shop. There are two signs: one hanging overhead with turquoise background and the shop's name, and another white sign with the same name below it. The shop’s window displays the name in large white letters. The building has beige siding, and there's a mural of red lips painted on the yellow building across the street. A yellow chair and a small table are outside the shop.