There’s a fascinating history between chocolate and the Philippines. It is said that the Spaniards introduced cacao to the country in the 17th century, and it quickly flourished, thanks to our tropical climate, which was perfect for cultivating the plant.
Today, chocolate has become deeply woven into our culture, satisfying our collective sweet tooth. The rising demand for high-quality, locally sourced chocolate has paved the way for brands like Malagos Chocolate.
Malagos Chocolate is a family-owned business coming from the Malagos Agri-Ventures Corporation that goes way back in 1963. They are considered to be one of the pioneers in this cacao farming industry with this starting in 2003, when one of the founders, Charina, dreamt of revitalizing the local cacao industry which crashed in the 80s. Her dream was to push for premium Philippine-branded chocolate and not just export the beans to institutions.
This love for chocolate led her to what we know today as Malagos Chocolate. This has also paved the way for other chocolate makers, and even landed this beloved Philippine chocolate brand the country’s first ever international award in 2015.
To match their superior product quality, they’ve partnered with local design studio Studio Dialogo, whose creative expertise brings their brand to life with a design that embodies their excellence.
About the Logo
We have made revisions to the logo in order to highlight the farm’s location more prominently. Additionally, we have simplified the script logo type to ensure that it remains legible even on small applications.
Illustrations
Illustrations can be a powerful tool in conveying a brand’s narrative, and Malagos Chocolate serves as a great example of this.
In our work for Malagos, we use illustrations on their flagship chocolate bars to tell the story of the brand. This includes highlighting the fact that Malagos is the sole tree-to-bar chocolate maker in the Philippines, emphasizing their unique position in the market. Additionally, our illustrations showcase the crucial role played by farmers, who serve as the backbone of the company.
Initially, Malagos (and our illustrations) focused on the cacao and the farm’s location in Davao. In our current approach, we place the farmers front and center, recognizing their integral role in the chocolate-making process.
The 25-gram chocolate sleeves are illustrated in the same style as the woodcut-like illustrations for the 85-gram bars. The color palette consists of colors inspired by the cacao pod.
LEFT: An illustrated gift box originally intended for Valentine’s Day but can be used all year round shows different forms of love.
RIGHT: The Premium Unsweetened Chocolate Tin Can also features woodcut-like illustrations.
DETAIL: Originally created for Valentine’s Day, this illustrated gift box can be used throughout the year to represent various manifestations of love.
Part of Malagos’ mission is to promote the Philippines through its packaging. This series showcases the country’s endemic flora and fauna, landmarks, and products from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. This envelope packaging is ideal for your pasalubong or gift-giving requirements.
The label of the Malagos Porter showcases Mt. Talomo, with the Malagos Cacao Farm located at its foothills. Upon closer inspection, the label also features endemic flora and fauna, such as the Waling-Waling orchid and Rufous Hornbill.
As part of Malagos’ efforts to promote Philippine flora and fauna, the packaging of the endemic bird series also showcases the beauty of these birds. The chocolate bar sleeve features six endemic birds that can be observed when visiting the Malagos Cacao Farm. Each bird is illustrated with a flower or fruit that is also found on the farm.
The Malagos Chocolate Premium Gift Box features a digital painting of a cacao fruit hanging from a tree branch. Our aim in designing and illustrating Malagos’ identity and branding is to convey a classic and authentic feel.
The same classic illustration is also featured in the Pasalubong Box, which is designed to hold a selection of your favorite Malagos Chocolate products.
—
Brand Identity by Studio Dialogo. (https://dialogo.co/)
Follow them in other places too:
Instagram: @studiodialogo
Facebook: /studiodialogo
I SAW DESIGN 
Leave a comment