A new coffee shop at Oakland University's front door owes its look to one of the school's own students.

Oso Café ft. Zingerman's Coffee is set to open later this summer at the entrance of the Oakland Center, the student union at 312 Meadow Brook Road in Rochester. The café will serve coffee from Ann Arbor-based Zingerman's Coffee Company, joining an existing Zingerman's Bistro already operating in the building, and marks the latest addition to OU's campus dining lineup.

What sets Oso apart: its entire visual identity was built by Kadin Price, a graphic design student and OU Eats intern who created the logo, bear mascot, woodland-themed illustrations, hand-drawn typography and warm color palette that will greet visitors walking into the building.

"I really wanted to go for something that felt natural, like it should have been here before," Price said in a university profile published Aug. 14. "A name that rolls off the tongue, colors that say 'warm welcome' and graphics that make you feel good."

The name "Oso," Spanish for "bear," nods to OU's Golden Grizzlies mascot. Price's creative process included filling sketchbooks, studying café branding across the industry, experimenting with letterforms and staring at bear paws and facial expressions before settling on a cohesive look.

Price first joined OU Eats as a store associate at Tilly's, a campus convenience store in Oak View Hall, after hearing about the job from a family friend's daughter. He spent nearly three years in that role before becoming a student leader. When a graphic design internship opened up, OU Eats marketing manager Seth Schafer handed Price the café branding project as a major portfolio piece.

The internship is part of Oakland University's OU Pledge, a program launched in February 2025 that guarantees every undergraduate access to experiential learning. Since the program's launch, students have had access to more than 3,000 opportunities through the Handshake career platform, according to the OU Pledge website.

Price, who came to OU on a full-tuition scholarship from the Center for Multicultural Initiatives, said the project gave him professional confidence. He has also served as a CMI scholar and orientation group leader during his time on campus. He draws artistic inspiration from cartoons like "Adventure Time" and "Looney Tunes," video games, graffiti and Detroit's mural scene.

OU Eats is operated by Chartwells Higher Education, a division of Compass Group North America. The OU Board of Trustees approved a new five-year food services contract with Chartwells on June 26, running through June 30, 2031.

A formal celebration of Oso Café and other new dining additions across campus is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15.