Client Spotlight: Thirsty Professor Branding, Identity, and Merchandise Design

Thirsty Professor Taproom, Tallahassee Florida

Thirsty Professor got its name because of its proximity to the FSU main campus. They feature a Taproom, Crowler/Growler station, and gastro-style food menu within in a shared space with a Sun Stop convenience store. This first location is found on the ground level of an apartment building occupied primarily by students.

With the potential for the concept to be added to other Sun Stop locations throughout the southeast, our goal was to create a whimsical brand identity that paired well with the current aesthetic and ethos of Sun Stop while also appealing to their primary demographic of young craft beer enthusiasts. Our primary inspiration for the character came from Donald Sutherland’s character in Animal House. With this, we came up with an unexpected, clever, and off-centered identity. Essentially he is that strange and interesting professor who you would want to enjoy a beer with after class.

We extended this personality through potential merchandising concepts and apparel that could be carried into additional placements like their menu, in-store signage, drinkware, and more.