How Branded Mugs Enhance Company Culture and Brand Identity

A mug is usually associated with pleasant experiences, like taking a coffee break or enjoying warm tea on a cold day; it brings back good memories and sparks positive feelings.

This is one of the reasons why branded mugs are also a great way to promote your company and build a sense of belonging among employees. From a designer's standpoint, if you don't limit your creativity when developing graphics for a mug, it can become a conversation starter at marketing events and an excellent opportunity to deliver a message about who you are.

An opportunity to work with a local company in Colorado Springs arose when Bob McGrath Construction requested branded mugs to include in their Christmas gifts for clients. Ensuring their branding remained consistent on the mug without deforming the logo or changing the company color scheme was as important as creating a design that wrapped around the mug instead of simply placing the logo on it.

The design for the mug was based on a postcard I designed previously for Bob McGrath's child company, Homeland Plumbing & Heating, but repurposing a design can come with some challenges. In what direction should the design unfold in relation to the handle? What color should we use for the inside to maintain consistency with company colors? Modern printing techniques are a great and fun way to explore methods of promoting your company or adding that sense of belonging to your team. A postcard can "become" a mug, a business card can be transformed into a hat, and wherever your creativity leads you, rest assured that if you can imagine it, you can print it!