CAROCANNE

Three colorful packages of Mauritius cane sugar labeled dark muscovado, demerara sugar, and white cane sugar against a green background.

PROJECT INFO

Project Background
One of the economic pillars of the island of Mauritius is its sugar production. The island is known for its large sugar cane fields which also have historical importance. Ironically, in the past, a lot of this sugar was exported to other countries, and Mauritians mostly consume imported sugar. With the implementation of the “Made in Moris” label, more and more people are looking for locally-made products to support Mauritian companies.

Project Objectives
• To create a distinct visual branding that feels artisanal and friendly.
• To make a packaging design for Mauritian sugar targeting Mauritians.
• To design 6 social media posts for the promotion of the brand.

Target Audience
CaroCanne’s tone is artisanal and friendly. They are targeting the general adult Mauritian consumer. They buy sugar as an everyday ingredient but would like a locally made one. They are on the lookout for local products to support Mauritian companies.

Disciplines
Branding, Packaging Design, Advertising

Date
2023

Tools & Platforms
Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Blender

BRANDING

GRAPHIC TOOLBOX

The branding for CaroCanne has a dark green as the primary colour to be reminiscent of sugar cane stalks. The lightest colour is a beige off-white to give more of a vintage and artisanal look. Instead of pure black, dark brown was used to give a slight warmth for friendliness. The logo consists of three sugar cane stalks nestled inside a tombstone shape. The sharp corners provide an established look that makes the company seem reliable.

Graphic design toolbox with sections for logo options, typefaces, illustrations, textures, color palette, keywords, and icons related to the CaroCanne brand, a Mauritian company providing local cane sugar.

PROCESS

I started by sketching a few thumbnails and by looking for inspiration. I finally settled on a combination of 1 and 7.

Sketches of various styles of sugarcane illustrations and packaging designs, including labels with the words "CarCanna" and "Proud."
Six logo designs for CaroCanne mug, with three in green and three in black, featuring stylized illustration of sugarcane with the text "MAURITIAN CANE SUGAR," "CaroCanne," and "EST.2024."

PACKAGING DESIGN

All three packaging designs consist of a window cutout that, when filled with their respective sugars, forms an image of an iconic symbol of Mauritius. The motifs have a coloured circle behind them to make them pop. Each sugar has a specific colour so customers can recognize the type easily. Together with the logo, the three packages make up the Mauritian flag colours – red, blue, yellow, and green. The green bar a the bottom balances the composition with the text-heavy top. The logo for the “Made in Moris” label has been added to certify that the sugar has been made locally. Each packaging also contains a small paragraph informing customers of the type of sugar and some suggestions for use. This is a soft call to action.

DARK MUSCOVADO

The dark muscovado sugar packaging motif is the Crystal Rock of Mauritius. It is an emblematic feature of the island and has been used repeatedly in various Mauritian media. Blue was chosen to reflect the sea and water in which the rock sits in.

A 1 kg package of dark Muscovado Mauritian cane sugar on a blue background.
A brown paper bag of Mauritian cane sugar with a white label displaying the brand name CaroCane and nutritional information, standing against a plain blue background.

DEMERARA

The demerara packaging has the dodo bird as its motif. This famous extinct bird was indigenous to the island and is instantly recognizable by everyone.

Packaging of Demerara sugar with a cartoon turkey illustration on an orange background.
A brown paper sack of Mauritian cane sugar with a white label, set against an orange background.

WHITE SUGAR

The white sugar packaging has frangipani flowers as its motif. This flower is a popular tropical one that grows in the island’s coastal regions. Yellow was chosen for the circle to echo the flowers’ cores.

A 1-kilogram bag of white cane sugar with a white and yellow label featuring floral designs, placed on a yellow background.
A beige paper bag of Mauritian cane sugar with a white label on a yellow background.

PACKAGING LABELS

Packaging of Dark Muscovado Mauritian Cane Sugar with green and blue design, logo, and a graphic of a sugarcane field. The label highlights its use in cookies, chocolate cake, and caramel, and indicates it is made in Mauritius, weighing 1 kilogram.
Packaging of Demerara Sugar featuring a cartoon white bird with a yellow beak, standing in front of a red circle. The label indicates that it is Mauritian cane sugar, 1 kilogram, made in Mauritius. The top left corner has a green logo with sugarcane and the text "Mauritian Cane Sugar" and "CaroCanne EST. 2024". The bottom of the package describes Demerara sugar as minimally processed with notes of caramel and toffee, ideal for tea, coffee, crumbles, and sauces.
Packaging label for Mauritian cane sugar called CaroCane, established in 2024, made from Mauritian sugar cane, ethically sourced, with highlights about artisanal craftsmanship, Mauritian origin, and local authenticity. Contains nutritional facts and contact information for the supplier.
Package of Mauritian white cane sugar with white and yellow plumeria flowers and green leaves on a white and yellow background. The label indicates it is 1 kilogram of white cane sugar, made in Mauritius, and produced by CaroCanne.

PROCESS

I sketched out a few thumbnails with varying compositions and emblematic Mauritian elements like Sega dancers and iconic natural features/landmarks. I then went into Illustrator to iterate the designs further. I did some research into the available packaging for sugar in Mauritius and used Blender to create the mockups for the chosen type. I wanted to challenge myself and learn how to use Blender for the first time.

Hand-drawn sketches of various mobile app screens featuring brand 'Can Can' and different product images, labels, and illustrations.
Collection of five Mauritian cane sugar product packages, including Demerara Sugar and Dark Muscovado, with illustrations of sugarcane plants, a bird, a island, and informational text.
A 3D-rendered image of a bag of dark muscovado sugar on a blue background, shown in a digital modeling software interface.
A 3D rendered model of a packaged product, dark muscovado Mauritian cane sugar in a silver, reflective bag with a label showing a landscape, text, and a weight of 1 kg.

The social media posts are a mix of pure advertising, recipes, trend-hopping, and information that provides value for people who follow the page. The photos are kept colourful to reflect the vibrant culture of the island. The heading of each post is in Mauritian Creole to attract the population and be relatable to them. The smaller text is in French, as most of the population speaks it as well. CaroCanne’s logo is on every post to promote brand awareness and cohesiveness.

SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

Packaging of Dark Muscovado Mauritian cane sugar with product description in French, featuring a product label, a blue background, and a CaroCanne logo.

Translation: How to use dark muscovado? Dark muscovado is a raw sugar rich in molasses and antioxidants with a deep and complex flavour. It’s perfect to make cookies, chocolate cake, and caramel!

A package of Demerara sugar with a cartoon turkey on the label, placed among green leaves with a bowl of sugar nearby. The image promotes an ethical choice of sugar from Mauritian cane, emphasizing natural sweetness and sustainability.

Translation: We’re Mauritian, of course we start the day with a good cup of tea (take on the […], of course […] trend).

Photo of three bags of sugar labeled Dark Muscovado, Demerara Sugar, and White Cane Sugar, with text in French and a Mauritian cane sugar logo on a blue background.

Translation: Three types of sugar for any occasion. Now available in stores!

A slice of cake on a white plate with a gold rim. Text in a green box asks, "Bizin ene bon recet maspin? Check dan caption!" and a logo in the bottom right corner features a cane plant with the words "Mauditian Cane Sugar, CaroCanne, EST. 2024."

Translation: Need a good cake recipe? Check the caption!

A promotional image for CaroCanne celebrating Independence Day with a banana pie, featuring the pie with a lattice crust and a slice removed. The text in Malagasy reads "Selebry fête l'independance ek ene tarte banane," and the logo of CaroCanne is visible at the bottom left.

Translation: Celebrate Independence Day with a banana pie (banana pies are an iconic Mauritian pastry).

Bag of Mauritian white cane sugar with a yellow and green design, alongside promotional text in French about enjoying the sugar in desserts.

Translation: White sugar, enjoy it in any dish! Whether it’s in an alouda (local drink) or a sesame ball (local snack), CaroCanne is here for your sweet needs.