Woodern scandi style table is seen on the left, and a blue tray with a branding sheet of paper placed on the right. On this tray we have a freshly brewed coffee in a glass cup

Specialty coffee at scale

Modern Standard
After years honing her craft in the large-scale coffee trade, entrepreneur Lynsey Harley set out to prove that the precision, care and quality inherent in small batch speciality coffee roasting could be scaled-up. A modern, efficient way to roast exceptional coffee – at volume – for a global market. It’s indie spirit with big ambitions. Proposition, name creation and the complete visual and verbal identity were all born from considering that duality between indie craft and established quality. To make great coffee accessible for everyone. 10 years on, and we’re still collaborating to evolve the Modern Standard Coffee story. Growing with the founder’s vision, and designing campaigns to support the causes for which the organisation cares deeply. Now, absolutely everyone – the residents of Edinburgh’s hip suburbs, the 1,000s of visitors to Copenhagen’s colourful canals and the well-heeled NYC commuters of Upper East Side – can enjoy the same great cup of Modern Standard coffee. Coffee that’s roasted with passion and know-how in the founder’s home country of Scotland, with no compromise on quality.

Naming
Brand articulation
Visual identity
Verbal identity
Campaign direction
Packaging
Motion principles

We see a round clock thats attached and protrudes from the outside of the Modern Standard cafe. The logo M is placed in the centre of the clock. The clock itself has light blue hands, as well as light blue indicators for the hour and minutes. Text surround the clock saying: "Modern Standard Coffee"

  • A new standard for everyone’s cup
    A simple monogram borrows from the idea of a kite-mark – a benchmark of quality on a large scale. Patterns and shapes are inspired by the logo’s geometries; from the angle of the M, to the small bar it balances on (affectionately known as the ‘ingot’).

  • A barista with the Modern Standard Pride lanyard is pictured smiling with their head turned left towards where the coffee machine is framing the left side of the picture
The M take away cups are placed upside down in a stack on the top of the coffee machine, next to a ceramic mug. They are in sharp focus, and in the background we can see a defocused barista going about making a coffee. The shot is close up so we don't see much of the barista, but it's clear they're working away

Growing partnerships
We’ve given Modern Standard a voice and platform to nurture the partnerships crucial to the success of the business. This voice has to speak on both a local and global scale. Sourcing coffee from world-leading farmers that the regulars at Modern Standard’s Edinburgh-based neighbourhood cafe can enjoy. They’re the trusted partner for the indie-bakery-down-the-road’s guest-blend and simultaneously the winner of sizeable wholesale contracts with national and international organisations like Channel 4, Visa and Ole & Steen / Lagkagehuset.

Woodern scandi style table is seen on the left, and a blue tray with a branding sheet of paper placed on the right. On this tray we have a freshly brewed coffee in a glass cup
Two people are sat on either end of a bench that sits outside the Modern Standard cafe. They are clearly enjoying a conversation, not in a staged way, this is very much a candid shot, taken from a distance, so the photographers presence isn't an intrusion on the twos conversation

Knowledge is there to share
Coffee can be a snobby business, but the whole Modern Standard model makes it accessible – not by dumbing down but bringing people along. From online brew guides for the at home beginner to barista training for aspiring talent at their London Coffee Studio, everyone’s invited to skill up.

Through our long-standing relationship with Modern Standard, we were entrusted to help champion the causes they care about. In true commitment to the cause, for International Women's Day, Modern Standard's 'M' monogram flips, proudly displaying a 'W' alongside language that champions gender equality. Their special edition coffee – Pachamama (meaning ‘Mother Earth’) – raised money for Women’s Aid, helping to end domestic violence against women and children.

Modern Standards limited edition International Women’s Days coffee bag is displayed in the centre of the frame, with a lilic background to match the bags lilic label. On the bag itself theres a sticker saying: "Supporting Women’s Aid", showing that the money raised with this coffee is going to a cause, and not just as a performative gesture

  • A set of illustrated portraits were commissioned for the ‘Modern Women’ series – a collection of stories showcasing the trail-blazing women doing it their way.

  • An illustration of Reiko Kaneko is set in the centre of the rectangle. She is rendered in a black and white graphic art style, with a white block. A lilic boarder surrounds the white block, and the informations about the International Women’s Day Series is mentioned
  • Here we see the write up about Reiko Kaneko, reading: "Reiko Kaneko is a ceramicist and educator who focuses on mastery of material and form, designing products for manufacture as well as unique commissioned pieces. Specialising in fine bone china, the Central Saint Martin's graduate later drew inspiration from the renowned pottery workers of Stoke-on-Trent - their immense knowledge a pivotal influence in the scaling-up of her practice."

To celebrate Pride month with the purpose and joy it deserves, this deliciously vibrant campaign is inspired by the Intersex-Inclusive Pride Progress flag and is firmly rooted in Modern Standard’s core belief: that great coffee is for everyone – absolutely everyone. Colourful, welcoming, playful, and an idea the whole community could get behind.

An image of the company’s founder Lynsey Harley wearing a Modern Standard hoodie is pictured alongside another woman holding a Modern Standard tote bag. They are standing outside the cafe where the window sticks from Pride [2025] can be seen, along side the phrase "Coffee's way better together"
  • One side of the Pride coffee box can be see with some messaging reading: "A party in a cup! This deliciously vibrant coffee, created especially for Pride 2022, blends honey processed, washed and pulped natural coffees together in one. A real celebration of the diverse process methods and growing regions from across the world. Kick back and let your tastes buds rave over a sweet, fruity coffee with a lively finish. Great coffee for absolutely everyone."
  • The Modern Standard Pride coffee box, with echoing out rainbow graphics, is seen photographed on a cream backgound

Taking meaningful action to raise awareness, and funds, via the world they know best: coffee. A lively, special edition Pride coffee blend celebrates the diverse process methods and growing regions from across the world, with profits from each sale going to Switchboard – a national LGBT+ helpline

A pin badge with the Modern Standard rainbow cup spiral is shown pinned to someones dark blue corduroy jacket
Two drinks from Modern Standard are photographed outside the Cafe, both are seen with 2025 Pride stickers reading "Take me out". The window decals produced for this campaign can be seen de-focussed in the background, on the windows of the cafe
A worker in the warehouse in pictured mid sip of coffee, smiling and putting his thumb up towards the camera, which is shooting the whole scene from a distance

More work