Katsu Sando, a Japanese pork fried cutlet sandwich shop in LA is a homemade local shop made to bring unique flavors for all to share. They have recently rebranded their shop. But, the finished logo and overall brand identity doesn’t match up with their product; a yummy crispy Japanese pork cutlet sandwich with crispy coleslaw. This project explores how a redesign could refine the product's identity.
5min read

Brand-Product Mismatch
The current logo and visual identity doesn't reflect the shop’s main product , creating a disconnect between the visual identity and the food experience.
Target Audience Confusion
Elements like the toast mascot, SpongeBob-like eyes, and basketball shoes primarily appeal to an American audience, but katsu sando is a Japanese American fusion dish which can confuse pedestrians about what type of food Katsu Sando offers.
Straying from Original Brand Goal
The rebrand moves away from the shop’s mission of providing homemade, curated Japanese flavors for everyone, risking a diluted identity and unclear messaging.
Reusable Brand Identity
Developed a scalable and cohesive brand system that can be applied across menus, packaging, social media, and in-store visuals. This approach saves time and effort for shop owners by providing ready-to-use assets for all touch points.
Increase Traffic and Sales
The refreshed branding should make the shop easily recognizable to consumers, improving word-of-mouth recommendations. The unique mascot and playful illustrations are designed to create online shareability, increasing visibility. Overall, the solution aligns the visual identity with the shop’s mission, encouraging both in-store visits and digital engagement.
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Cultural & Product Alignment; The solution has to reflect the Japanese culinary roots and highlight the product (crispy pork cutlet sandwiches) without alienating current customers. Practical Implementation; Any new brand guidelines needed to be feasible for implementation across menus, packaging, and digital channels.







- I identified the problem throgh observing gaps in between brand goal, product and existing message.
- I experimented with different directions until the branding felt more aligned with the product experience.
-I made thoughtful design choices and iterated on them instead of settling on the first idea.
I’d like to get feedback from real customers to see how the redesign comes across.
- Next time, I could push the brand further by showing how it lives on packaging, signage, or social media. Refining small details like spacing, type choices, and consistency would help elevate the final result.
- With more time, I’d build a simple brand guide to show how the identity scales.