Design post-4

 

  If you've ever been to Publix or other local grocery stores in Florida, you've probably noticed that most of the bottled water on the shelves is from Zephyrhills—a natural spring located near Dade City. I’ve always been partial to this brand. It’s cheap, easy to find, and in my opinion, it tastes the best. There’s also something comforting about the light aqua-colored wrapping and the clean, simple label—it’s familiar, nostalgic even.

But one thing I didn’t realize until I started traveling more is that spring water brands are often deeply regional. When I was in Louisiana and Texas, I started noticing that Zephyrhills was nowhere to be found. Instead, there was Ozarka, a Texas-based brand with similar packaging and price. The label was different, but the concept was the same: clean design, a splash of color, and some carefully chosen typefaces that try to say, “this water is pure, local, and trustworthy.”

Up north, especially in states like Maine and New Hampshire, the shelves were full of Poland Spring and Deer Park. Again, same idea—regional spring water packaged in a familiar format. It was kind of like seeing the same product wearing different clothes depending on the state you’re in. That’s when it hit me: I was learning about design without even realizing it.

Every label told a visual story. The colors, the fonts, the imagery to appear local—they were all subtle cues meant to convey purity, nature, and reliability. It made me realize how much design plays a role in building trust, especially with everyday items like bottled water. And honestly, comparing these brands helped train my eye. I started noticing how typography, layout, and color palettes can be adapted for local markets while still feeling familiar across the board.

But safe to say- no one beats Zephyrhills.

Anyway- One of my friends got curious about the water bottles, I mean after all they even held the same shape, only difference was the taste of minerals in some- and upon further research, all these are owned by Nestle, who actually received some back lash and legal issue, so they renamed/got sold to Blue Triton.

Despite all of these being regional, and some getting incredibly patriotic over their "water" they're all packed and sold by the same company, it's a very smart and clever way to market, and I thought it was quite intresting to discover!