Taste Expressions
Creating the most bespoke
tobacco experience
2017
Experience Design
About
A major tobacco producer wanted to create a new, unique, premium tobacco store. The goal was to highlight their top brands, while also educating customers about the intricacies of tobacco, and what makes these blends unique. The result was Taste Expressions, a store that showcases what goes into making a cigarette, and allows customers to try their hand at creating their own unique blend.
The design was large and premium, with marble floors and a brass ceiling installation. Installations were also designed to represent the three brands in the window display
Design Process
The process began with visiting the factory, to see the process of cigarette making, as well as working with the cigarette blender to understand how we could re-create the process in store.
Throughout the process we worked with the client to ensure the experience and the new brand were as premium and luxurious as possible, while maintaining the essence of the three brands represented.
Story Wall
The first step, educating the customers, is handled by a large modular Story Wall. The modules are swappable, and include text, images, product displays and interactive digital "peepholes", to take customers behind the scenes, and into the factory.
Space Layout
Facade
Story Wall
Blending Table
Customers are then directed to the blending table, an interactive table at the center of the space. Here they can try mixing and matching different tobaccos, as well as different filters to create a cigarette best suited to their taste palette.
Blend Table
Master Blender
Customers then head to the Master Blender. The table is a custom installation inspired by the machines at the factory. The blender takes tobacco from his Vault, and weighs, and blends the tobacco, before inserting into a cigarette. While doing this, they explain to the customer which regular cigarette blend would be closest to their taste preference.
Master Blender's Table
Smoking Room
The customers can then head to the smoking room to sample their creation. Custom designed furniture compliments the smoking room, while a large, back-lit tobacco vault provides a feature element in the space.
Smoking Lounge
Accessories
Customers then head back to the master blender to make changes, or buy a set, which is then packaged in a unique pack chosen from the Pack Wall.
Alongside the store, a series of custom Taste Expression branded accessories were also designed, including ashtrays, and cigarette tins.
Accessory Display
Pack Wall
Accessories