Designing Our Dream Matcha Bar: Adobe × Marlo
Designing Our Dream Matcha Bar: Adobe × Marlo
When Adobe UK reached out asking us to design our dream matcha bar for their very first Creator Live event in London, we genuinely couldn't believe it. This was Adobe—the tool I use every single day to build not only our brand, but so many others. To have them trust us with this? It felt like a full circle moment.
But it wasn't just about the matcha bar. We were also invited to design the entire event swag bag for 500+ creators. Co-branded matcha tins, tumblers, tote bags, notepads, stickers, affirmation cards, and even selfie mirrors. Every single piece needed to feel authentically Marlo while honoring Adobe's iconic brand.
The Design Challenge
For two months, we worked closely with the Adobe team, iterating and refining every detail in Illustrator. The biggest challenge? Balancing our playful, bold Marlo aesthetic with Adobe's professional, recognizable brand identity.
We wanted to lean into our signature pixel design at first—it's so distinctly Marlo. But we also had to incorporate Adobe's bold red alongside our matcha green. How do you make red and green work together without it feeling like Christmas? It took rounds of exploration, but we found a balance that felt fresh, energetic, and true to both brands.
The guiding concept for everything was Adobe's tagline for the event: "Creativity is better when shared." It became the heartbeat of every design decision.
Bringing It All to Life
We designed:
- The matcha bar concept - a bold, striped canopy that felt like a creative fuel station
- Menus - clean, approachable, very Marlo
- Stickers - both for the swag bags and to go on every matcha cup
- Co-branded tin labels - seeing our matcha rebadged with Adobe's branding was surreal
- Tumblers - functional, cute, and designed to last beyond the event
- Affirmation cards - little reminders to keep the creative energy going
- Selfie mirrors - because creativity deserves to be celebrated (and Instagrammed)
My favorite part? Seeing the matcha bar come to life. The Adobe team absolutely outdid themselves building it into a physical space. It wasn't just a bar—it was a matcha house. Walking up to it for the first time, I couldn't believe something we designed in Illustrator was now standing in front of us, full-scale and real.
The Creative Community Energy
Spending two days surrounded by 500+ creators, marketers, and designers reminded me why I love this work. Creativity really is better when shared. Watching people pick up our designs, hold the co-branded tins, stick our stickers on their laptops—it all felt like proof that good design creates connection.
We were definitely a little starstruck meeting so many talented creators. Internally screaming at times, if I'm honest. But that energy, that community, that shared passion for making things? It's what makes being a creative worth it.
This project challenged us, stretched us, and reminded us why we started Marlo Studios in the first place. We're so grateful to Adobe for trusting us with this opportunity and for supporting our small business journey from day one.
Follow our studio journey as we continue designing, creating, and collaborating with brands we believe in.
