Winter is a season that brings many more stories than we realize. A gas station is a place where these stories naturally come together. The design therefore works with three different stories that represent different ways of traveling and its rhythms. Each captures a different experience, but all are connected by a brief moment of pause.
The smaller cup (S) depicts the daily rush and routine of commuting. The gas station here functions as a place of necessity—a quick stop without which the journey would not be possible. It is a moment when time is against us, but even a short coffee break can bring a sense of control and focus before continuing on. The small cup is usually used to serve espresso/double espresso, a drink that we can drink quickly and that gives us a boost so we can continue on our way.
The medium cup (M) works with the theme of occasional travel. It captures people on their way to a winter adventure, vacation, or discovery of the unknown. The gas station becomes a transitional point here—a place where people stretch their legs, look at a map, and realize the direction they have taken. This cup is usually used to serve cappuccino or flat white, the ideal size of coffee for a longer period of time.
The largest cup (L) offers a glimpse into the lives of truck drivers. For them, the gas station is not just a stop, but an everyday environment – a place to rest, eat, and meet colleagues. The illustration shows the gas station as a functional space with its own rhythm. The largest cup is usually used to serve filtered coffee, which contains more caffeine and is usually drunk over a longer period of time.
The colors of the illustrations were chosen to reflect the winter atmosphere and the character of each story:
Pantone 3516 U – red (cup S)
- energy, movement, and the hustle and bustle of everyday life -
Pantone 072 U – blue (cup M)
- cold, distance, and traveling into the unknown -
Pantone 2315 U – brown (cup L)
- stability, routine, and the earthiness of life on the road -
year: 2026
competition entry for Orlen gas station
digital illustration in ProCreate
