Gusto Gelato
Information Storytelling
Gusto Gelato is a Perth-based artisan gelato brand founded by Sean Lee, who trained in Italy at Gelato University to master traditional gelato-making. The business is known for small-batch, handcrafted flavours made on-site with high-quality ingredients and no artificial pastes or additives. At the time of the project, Gusto operated solely from its Leederville store, later expanding to Elizabeth Quay and East Victoria Park, and more recently relocating from Leederville to Willetton as new locations continue to emerge. Their reputation centres on authentic technique, balanced flavours, and a deep commitment to the craft, making Sean’s personal journey and philosophy a strong narrative foundation for storytelling or design work.
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Information Storytelling
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Gusto Gelato:
Hand-crafted artisan gelato made fresh daily
Wide range of classic, seasonal, and vegan/dairy-free flavours
Takeaway, dine-in, and delivery options
Gelato tubs in multiple sizes for groups or home serving
Gelato-making workshops and educational sessions
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Hospitality
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Food + Beverage
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Publication (print-ready PDF and mockups) with a three-part story, developed through concepts and revisions
Visual language system including colour, illustration, typography, and graphic elements
Infographics and illustrated graphics developed through concept exploration
Flavour mood-map poster featuring all Gusto Gelato flavours, created with concepts and revisions
Research summary covering interviews, competitor review, Italian traditions, Gelato Museum contact, Facebook insights, and workshops
Insights for marketing engagement (likes, comments, shares on flavours)
A research-led project celebrating Sean and the gelato craft into a clear visual language translating craft knowledge, personal narrative and traditional practice into visual storytelling.
The Story
The brief was to document and share the life's work of a local craftsperson—to capture their story through their own words and imagery in a way that honoured both the craft and the person behind it. The information needed to be comprehensive, authentic, and rooted in genuine understanding.
The chosen subject was handcrafted gelato, focusing on Gusto Gelato and its gelatician, Sean Lee, who travelled to Italy to study at Gelato University, learning the traditional craft firsthand from its source.
We began with an extensive research phase: competitor analysis to understand the market landscape, documentation of traditional gelato practices and their Italian origins, analysis of Facebook audience data and engagement patterns, an in-depth interview with Sean to capture his perspective and journey, outreach to the Gelato Museum in Italy for historical and technical context, and hands-on learning through Sorbeto workshops to understand the craft physically. We spent considerable time gathering information from social media channels and Zomato reviews, extracting patterns and insights from customer experiences. The video documents both the primary research (direct interviews, workshops, museum contact) and secondary research (competitive analysis, audience data, review mining) that informed everything that followed.
This research foundation allowed us to understand not just what gelato is, but how Sean approaches it, why traditional methods matter, and what resonates with people who experience his craft. From there, we developed concepts, explorations, and worked through multiple revision cycles until the information could be communicated clearly and authentically.
What we did
Research-driven information design that documented Sean's gelato craft and transformed gathered knowledge into a comprehensive visual communication system.
Primary & Secondary Research
In-depth interview with Sean documenting his training, philosophy, and approach
Direct contact with the Gelato Museum in Italy for historical and technical accuracy
Hands-on participation in sorbetto and gelato workshops for experiential understanding
Competitor analysis mapping the information landscape
Traditional Italian gelato research establishing authentic context
Facebook audience and engagement data analysis identifying what information resonated
Social media and Zomato review mining revealing customer language and preferences, resulting to excel spreadsheets of data of research including statistics, reviews etc.
Attending a sorbetto/gelato workshop
Publication (print-ready PDF and mockups)
Structured into four distinct parts capturing Sean's personal story, Italian gelato tradition, the technical craft behind Gusto Gelato, and the distinction between gelato and sorbeto
Illustrated storytelling integrating imagery with educational content
Refined layouts prioritizing information hierarchy and reading flow
Developed through iterative concept testing and revision
Visual language system
Colour palettes derived from actual gelato tones connecting visual identity to subject matter
Illustration style, typography, and graphic elements supporting information clarity
Systematic approach allowing consistent communication across applications
Refined through conceptual exploration and testing
Infographics and illustrated graphics
Visual explanations of craft processes, ingredient relationships, and traditional practices
Complex information made accessible through illustration and diagram
Developed from conceptual sketches through refinement
Information copywriting
Narrative structure built directly from research findings
Sean's voice and perspective maintained throughout
Technical gelato information made accessible to general audiences
Organized into cohesive thematic sections
Flavour mood-map poster
Information tool cataloguing all Gusto Gelato flavours
Helps readers navigate choices based on mood and preference
Translates subjective experience (taste, feeling) into visual navigation system
Created through concept development addressing both information and engagement goals
Mapping out design, function, and user experience based on research
Analysis for Future Application
Documentation of flavour popularity, engagement patterns, and customer language
Insights on what information generates response and sharing
Framework for understanding audience needs and communication opportunities
The Outcome
The project created a comprehensive knowledge resource that documented Sean's craft, the tradition behind it, and the experience Gusto Gelato offers. It wasn’t just based on Gusto Gelato and Sean, but it brought information about the craft of Gelato. The research revealed not just what information existed, but what information people wanted, what questions they asked, what aspects of gelato intrigued them, and how they talked about their experiences. The information storytelling publication structured this knowledge into an accessible narrative that educated readers about gelato tradition, craft process, and the distinction between gelato and sorbeto, giving people genuine understanding rather than surface-level description.
The visual language system made complex craft information clear and approachable. Infographics transformed technical processes into understandable visual explanations. The flavour mood-map gave people a practical tool for decision-making based on psychological and sensory preference, not just ingredient lists.
The information gathered, flavour popularity data, engagement patterns, customer language, and questions people consistently asked, provided actionable intelligence that could inform business decisions and get a better understanding of who their community and buyers are.
“We were thrilled with how Alysha presented some of the key parts of our business back to us in graphic form. Not only was it insightful but it is very useful for our planning a move forward. We couldn’t be happier with the final outcome.”
Sean Lee, Owner & Galetician Gusto Gelato
