Image of Oda Best word mark in a red circle

This project is a redesign I did for a friend in 2020, before I officially joined the graphic design program. I chose to revisit this project because the original design always stuck with me, especially since I follow them on social media, and I really wanted to rework it. The brand name, “Oda The Best,” is a playful nod to the mother, Oda, with the phrase “Oh da Best!” Known for bold dishes like birria tacos with Filipino twists and desserts like taho.

Family photo of the Batongbakal family in a park, named left from right, uby, kerstan, davin, oda, gracie, dustin
Image of the owners of Oda Best in work aprons smiling, named left to right, Uby, Oda
Image of Oda Best family icons illustration with pencil lines, uby, kerstan, davin, oda, gracie, dustin

Revisiting this design before officially joining the program felt like a full-circle moment. It gave me the chance to reflect on how much I’ve grown, not only in my technical skills but also in how I approach design. The original version still lingers in my mind. It lacked creative freedom and, at the time, felt more like something I made just to finish, rather than something with meaning or purpose. I realized the design was too busy with two characters, and removing one could give the impression that the couple had divorced. To simplify the design, I decided to create a layout inspired by A&W, a brand I’ve always admired. Growing up close to the family allowed me to work with more people and focus on using fewer figures in the logo.

Image of oda best work mark on red background
Image of Oda Best word mark elongated format on red background
Image of Oda Best word mark in a red circle
Image of Oda Best family icons illustrations on a horizontal line named left from right, uby, oda, gracie, kerstan, davin, dustin
Image of Oda Best family icons illustrations with a circle behind each character on a horizontal line named left from right, uby, oda, gracie, kerstan, davin, dustin

This time around, I approached the project with more intention. I focused on creating a story that felt personal and thoughtful, especially since it was for a family I’ve known since middle school. Being able to reshape the brand into something more meaningful for both them and me allowed me to reclaim my voice as a designer.

Image of branded oda best taco box stacked
Image of paper Oda Best branded disposable red paper bowl/cups.
Image of Oda Best menu on the social media app Instagram story
Image of Filipino dessert in a cup, Taho, branded with Oda Best red sticker on the cup