Via Gelato Hawaii

Via Gelato is an artisanal gelato business that began as a food truck and later grew into a local establishment in Honolulu, Hawaii. Founder Melissa Bow keeps her shop stocked with more than a dozen flavors each day and is constantly creating new, unique flavors for her customers.

I helped brand Via Gelato by designing their responsive website, which features a full library of flavors, hand-drawn icons, social media links, press coverage, and storefront information. This allows both locals and tourists to easily access everything they need to visit Via Gelato.

ROLE

Creative direction, branding, product design, illustration

TOOLS

Sketch, Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign

YEAR

2013-2017

CAMPAIGN

Closed

Logo

The logo went through many iterations. The first thing that came to mind when designing it was the artisanal, handmade cones that owner Melissa featured, which were eclectic and unique. While most waffle cones have a traditional crosshatch pattern, Via’s cones were personalized to reflect Melissa’s vision of nontraditional designs. I envisioned a Hawaii imprint inside the cone, which I felt would speak for itself.

The circle in the logo represents the continuous introduction of new flavors at Via Gelato, symbolizing the never-ending cycle of creativity and deliciousness. If you ever find yourself in Hawaii on vacation, make sure to stop by!

Iconography & illustrations

I collaborated with the owner to create a set of hand-drawn illustrations that would add a playful touch to the site. The decision to use these doodles as icons on the website, as well as on merchandise like bags, cups, and loyalty punch cards, was an enjoyable and creative process.

Flavors

Via Gelato has introduced so many flavors, all of which are delicious. When designing the site, we aimed to showcase both the daily featured flavors and the essential, everyday offerings.

Catering packages and orders

Local customers began calling in to request catering for events. Since Via Gelato originally started as a mobile gelato truck, the owner wanted to explore if offering event services could boost the business—and it certainly did. Due to the high volume of inquiries, I created a section on the website where customers could choose up to six flavors for the Via truck to serve at events. This allowed customers to see the available options directly on the site. To keep things simple, we offered basic and deluxe packages. Since the launch, Via has also introduced a gelato cart for events like weddings and birthday celebrations.

Gift card and loyalty cards

Via Gelato received many rave reviews following the launch of its brick-and-mortar location. Customers began asking about gift cards and various merchandise to give to their loved ones. In response, loyalty punch cards were also introduced for regulars who frequently stop by Via Gelato.

Press

The hype was well worth it. Local reviews were glowing since the grand opening. I was thrilled that Via Gelato was mentioned and featured in numerous magazines, articles, and blog posts, and is now a favorite go-to spot in Honolulu, Hawaii. A big shout-out to Mel and her brother for making it all happen. I’m beyond happy to see the business thriving and can’t wait to get gelato again on my next trip to Hawaii.

© Lina Yang. All Rights Reserved.