Design Case Study Template
A story-driven design case study for brand and packaging studios. It walks through the challenge, a before/after spread, the identity system, packaging, a client quote, and results with a revenue chart.
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Saltgrass
Case study · Saltgrass Bakery · 2026
A corner bakery, finally as good on the street as its bread.
Identity Packaging Shopfront Web
Northfold Studio Brand · Packaging · Places
01 — The challenge
Great bread. Invisible shop.
Saltgrass had baked on the same corner for 26 years. Regulars loved it; everyone else walked past. A faded awning, taped-up notices and five different logos told new customers nothing.
Before
1 in 5 locals could name the bakery
3 yrs of flat weekend footfall
46 online orders a week, mostly regulars
Saltgrass Bakery 02
02 — Before / after
Same corner. New face.
Before
Saltgrass
After
Saltgrass Bakery 03
03 — Identity
Warm, slow, handmade.
SaltgrassBAKERY · EST. 1998
S
FOREST
#1E3B2C
FLOUR
#F3EAD7
CRUST
#C9873E
Fraunces Display — signs, bags, menus
Manrope Text — prices, labels, web
Saltgrass Bakery 04
04 — Packaging
A bag people keep.
One green band
Every box, cup and bag carries the same forest band — cheap to print, easy to spot across a street.
Kraft first
Unbleached bags and compostable cups cut packaging cost by 18%.
Made to be shared
Customers post the bags. The band does the rest.
Saltgrass Bakery 05
05 — In the shop
“People come in to take photos of the bags. Then they buy the bread.”
Theo QuintOwner, Saltgrass Bakery
New green tiles, one menu board and warm light. The counter now leads the eye from the door to the bread.
06 — Results · Jan–Jun 2026
Three months after launch.
+64% weekend footfall
1,820 → 2,980 a week
+38% average basket
$8.40 → $11.60
4.6× online orders
46 → 212 a week
Monthly revenue ($k)
61.2
62.0
78.9
93.4
102.7
107.3
LAUNCH
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
| Month | Footfall / wk | Avg basket | Online / wk | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1,820 | $8.40 | 46 | $61.2k |
| March (launch) | 2,240 | $9.80 | 98 | $78.9k |
| June | 2,980 | $11.60 | 212 | $107.3k |
Saltgrass Bakery 07
Northfold Studio
Got a shop people walk past?
We make brands for places people visit: bakeries, cafés, studios and shops. Identity, packaging and the street-facing bits that bring people in.
Writehello@northfold.studio
Call+1 (503) 555-0188
Visitnorthfold.studio
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Frequently asked questions
What is a design case study?
A design case study is a short document a studio sends to prospects or posts in a portfolio. It shows one client project from the problem through the design work to the measured result, using photos, a quote, and numbers rather than only final mockups.
What should a design case study include?
Include the client's problem, a before/after comparison, the design work you built, a client quote, and results with real numbers such as revenue or foot traffic. This template has each section, pre-filled for a bakery rebrand.
How long should a design case study be?
Most design case studies run 6 to 8 pages: a cover, the problem, before/after, the design system, one application page, a quote, and results. This template follows that structure.
Is this design case study template free?
Yes. You can customize the design case study template for free and download it as a print-ready PDF for any branding, packaging, or identity project.
Design Case Study
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