Mengelmoes food truck celebrates South African cultures, with a strong emphasis on Afrikaans traditions, particularly the pannekoek (pancake). The concept modernises this classic dish to appeal to contemporary audiences while retaining cultural authenticity and vibrance.
Mengelmoes embodies messiness, playfulness, and experimentation, encouraging creativity and joy in everyday experiences. The chosen brand name, is an Afrikaans slang word meaning “a mix of flavors and variety of things together.”
The brand needed to highlight aspects of South African culture and subcultures, with a rollout that considered all elements appropriate for a food truck brand, from naming and visual identity to menu design and packaging.

The design direction focused on vibrancy, texture, and playfulness. The wordmark and illustrations were developed to reflect the brand’s ethos of experimentation and fun. Typography choices provided a clean yet approachable foundation, while the colour palette combined earthy tones with bright accents to balance tradition and modern energy.

Illustrations and patterns were used to create a visual language that feels dynamic and culturally rooted. The food truck design, menu layouts, and packaging reinforced the brand’s playful identity, with slogans like “’n mengsel van smake” (a mix of tastes) and “smaak lekker nè?” (tastes good, right?) anchoring the cultural connection.

The execution demonstrates a holistic brand system that integrates cultural storytelling with playful design, making Mengelmoes both a tribute to tradition and a fresh, modern food experience.