case study

BL_NK

Design

Branding

Strategy

Dec 16, 2025

A functional beverage designed to help people work better.

The Ask

When the founder of BL_NK approached us, he came with a name—and a vision.
He wanted to create a new category of functional beverages for the workplace: a clean, focused alternative to coffee and tea, designed specifically for corporate teams seeking better energy, productivity, and cognitive clarity.

But this was not just another energy drink.
This was a brand rooted in purpose.
A brand meant to support neurodiversity, inspired by the founder's own journey with focus and ADHD.
A brand that would enter the competitive UK market with a clear mission: Help people work better.
Our mandate was to develop the full brand strategy, define a distinctive positioning, and craft a visual identity that could stand confidently in the corporate world—premium, minimal, and deeply meaningful.

BL_ANK - Logo - Blank x Spearhead - Case Study


The Discovery

As we dove into the competitive landscape—ranging from energy drinks to nootropic and functional beverages — it became clear that the category was loud, vibrant, and overwhelmingly youth-oriented.
Most of the brands were not tailored to the corporate environment.
This revealed the gap we needed to fill:
A functional drink built for the mind. A brand for professionals.  A product that supports focus, productivity, and well-being.

The Challenge

We were building a brand for two worlds:
1- A competitive UK beverage landscape with strong incumbents and very loud aesthetics.
2- A corporate environment where professionalism, subtlety, and trust matter more than trends.

We needed a visual identity that could:
  - stand out without shouting
  - feel premium yet accessible
  - resonate with HR teams and employees alike
  - reflect the founder's story without becoming overly emotional
  - communicate functionality at a glance

And most importantly, it needed to bring the meaning of the name BL_NK to life.

During our initial review, we identified a critical barrier in the original name. The brand was first presented as “BLXNK,” a spelling that looked modern but proved unreadable and confusing for most people. As part of our strategic refinement, we simplified the name to “BL_NK,” creating a clearer, more intuitive identity while preserving the symbolic ‘blank space’ at the heart of the concept.

BL_ANK - The Challenge - Blank x Spearhead - Case Study

The Rationale

A Strategy Built on Purpose.
We anchored the brand in three pillars:

   1. Elevating Workplace Performance
        Helping teams achieve better focus, energy, and productivity.

   2. Minimalist, Science-Backed Quality
        A clean, honest product with transparent benefit communication.

   3. A Social Purpose for Neurodiversity
        Raising awareness and supporting individuals who think differently.

This strategic foundation guided every visual and verbal decision.

A Visual Identity That Makes Space

BL_NK needed to embody clarity—literally and metaphorically.

Logo — The Power of the “Blank”

We designed a cubic, minimalist typographic system where the dash between “L” and “N” creates an intentional empty space—a visual pause.|
A subtle nod to the blank state of mind the drink aims to enable: calm, focused, ready.

Tagline — Work Better

Direct, confident, and aligned with the brand’s core promise.
A message any corporate client can instantly relate to.

Color Palette — Soft, Premium, Non-Distracting

Unlike most functional drinks filled with neon and intensity, BL_NK needed to live comfortably on a corporate desk.
We created a pastel palette inspired by the flavors, muted, not vibrant, soothing, not stimulating, a palette reflective of a brand built for clarity
Each flavor has its own tone, but all remain within a premium, quiet world.

Iconography — Clear Functionality, Minimal Form

To communicate benefits instantly, each functionality received its own geometric icon:
   - Focus → Eye
   - Energy → Sun
   - (and any future functions can follow the same system)

Clean lines, consistent geometry, and a visual language that feels both modern and corporate.

BL_ANK - Icons - Blank x Spearhead - Case Study

BL_ANK - Mockups - Blank x Spearhead - Case Study

BL_ANK - Can Design 3D - Blank x Spearhead - Case Study

The Outcome

BL_NK emerged as a brand with a distinct presence and purpose:
  - A strategy that carves a unique space in the UK market.
  - A minimalist visual identity that speaks directly to corporate environments.
  - A logo that embodies clarity, presence, and the founder’s personal story.
  - A color and icon system that makes functionality intuitive and elegant.
  - A brand that supports focus, productivity, and neurodiversity in equal measure.

BL_ANK - Can Design - Blank x Spearhead - Case Study

BL_NK isn't just a beverage. It’s a workplace ritual.
A moment of clarity. A tool for teams who want to work better.

  • Collaborators
  • Christine Hajjar (Head of Design)
  • Elyan Jabre (Creative Director)
  • Katia Barakat (Marketing Strategy)
  • Yasmina Mortada (Senior Account Executive & Project Manager)