Designed by Valencia-based Gallén+Ibáñez (Marisa Gallén and Carmina Ibáñez), Carmen del Poaig extra virgin olive oil is one of the latest limited-edition launches by organic olive oil producer El Poaig.
El Poaig, founded by Manuel Arnau and Joaquim Solano in 2008, launched two ultra-premium olive oils on a mission to protect the 1000-year old olive trees of Maestrat. Nearly fifteen years later, they launched Carmen del Poaig limited production oil which is specially focused on the North American gourmet market.
When asked about the creative process for the project Ibáñez states, ‘We needed a concept for the identity and packaging that represented the honesty and excellence of this traditional product. Truthfulness and quality, without pretence. We selected a black glass bottle and its rounded shapes reminded us of the bottles and jars of the old apothecaries’.
Gallén and Ibáñez also gained inspiration from vintage advertisements for medicines and remedies. They wanted to highlight the relationship between healthy Mediterranean living and this extraordinary product. They adapted the typographic style to reflect this and Ibáñez says, ‘the language was perfect to communicate Carmen del Poaig as a perfect elixir for life’.
The team chose Sirio Fiandra because it complied with all the sustainability certifications and had the black tone they wanted. Ibáñez states, ‘The texture is perfect because, as well as being elegant, it conceals any scratches or fingerprints that might be caused by rubbing or transport’.