Guinness Harp Font
A disruptive fount that reignited love for an icon at the moment of choice
London, 2020: Bompas & Parr partnered with Guinness and Design Bridge to bring renewed power, presence and irresistible allure to one of the world’s most beloved beers — by reimagining how Guinness Draught shows up at the bar.
Despite deep affection for Guinness, consumers often forgot to choose it in the moment. Our challenge was to restore Guinness’s impact at point of pour and invite drinkers back into the brand’s rich, communal world — a world Made of More, with over 250 years of brewing heritage and a legacy of industry-defining innovation, including the world’s first nitrogenated beer.
A New Icon At the Bar
Founts across the industry had been declining year on year, reducing Guinness’s visibility at the critical moment of decision. Competitors leaned toward polished chrome with minimal differentiation, creating a bar landscape that looked increasingly similar. Guinness needed a beacon, something iconic, bright and unmistakably theirs.
Working with Design Bridge, we set out to create a fount worthy of Guinness’s legacy: a design that would cut through the noise, captivate from across the room and feel instantly, recognisably Guinness.
We delivered a fount so distinctive that outlets began giving it dedicated space on the bar top. Its luminous and sculptural presence was disruptive in all the right ways, a bold statement that only Guinness could make.
The Hero Harp did more than stand out. It reversed a national decline. As soon as bar owners saw the design, they wanted it, and sales growth following installation rose significantly above expectations. The impact was immediate, tangible and industry shifting.
The Results: From National Success to Global Demand
The response exceeded every target:
- 22,860 British outlets installed the Hero Harp within 20 months, far surpassing the 30-month goal of 13,000.
- Originally created for the British and Irish markets, the fount’s success sparked global enthusiasm, leading to 45,928 orders worldwide within the same timeframe.
- The design won the Grand Prix at the 2020 DBA Design Effectiveness Awards in recognition of its exceptional commercial and creative impact.
The Hero Harp has become a new global symbol of Guinness, a bright and compelling reminder of the extraordinary beer the world already loves, even when it forgets.
