# Quirky Soft Drink Branding Hugh Heffernan Creates Kitschy Soda Packaging for Elixir By Susan Keefe | Published 2012-06-15 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hugh-heffernan References: [packagingoftheworld](http://www.packagingoftheworld.com/2012/06/elixir-student-work.html) & [flickr](http://www.flickr.com/people/67845869@N03/) Hugh Heffernan, a design student at the Cork Institute of Technology, created these cute and quirky bottles for the fictional company Elixir. The brightly hued soft drinks are hard to miss with their unlikely styling and abstract animal mascots. Distinctly different from the other glass bottle sodas currently on the market, the Elixir packaging is a standout piece of design. Hugh Heffernan combined Victorian aesthetics with the punchy psychedelic styles of the 1960s to create Elixir's unusual, kitschy look. The shape of the bottle resembles medicinal bottles from the late 19th century, complete with the classic cork stopper. The labels reflect more modern style sensibilities with swirling patterns and eye-popping graphics. Each flavor of soda is accompanied with a mascot and a playful verse; such as "Fern the Fictitious Fox and her Serious Snowberry Cola." Witty, whimsical and unexpected, the Elixir packaging is like no other. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.2/10 - Popularity: 66% | Activity: 83% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Quirky Packaging Design:** Opportunity to create unique packaging designs that stand out on the shelves - **Combining Different Aesthetics:** Chance to merge various design elements and create a distinctive visual identity - **Playful Branding:** Option to use humor and whimsy in branding to differentiate from competitors ### Who This Affects Most - **Beverage:** Innovation opportunity to create new and fun packaging for soft drinks, juices, and other beverages - **Product Design:** Potential to utilize different design elements and innovate new packaging designs for various products - **Advertising and Marketing:** Innovation potential to create different branding strategies that utilize humor and whimsy to stand out from competitors ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Conceptual Craft Beer Bottles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sour-glass.md) - [Fantastical Creature-Inspired Sodas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/irnbru-xtra-legend-editions.md) - [Youthfully Vibrant Sodas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mirinda.md) - [Colorful Kombucha Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/colorful-kombucha-branding.md) - [Updated Cider Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heineken-ireland.md) - [Expressive Beer Packagings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/buqui-bichi-brewery.md) - [Vibrant Non-Alcoholic Wine Labels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kally-wines.md) - [Personalized Non-Alcoholic Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/le-fizz-by-ghia.md) - [Artful Energy Drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/el-jefe-energy.md)