Our Work; The Salsa Truck

Local Chicagoans and food truck fanatics alike have probably already heard the great news. Chicago has officially given out its very first mobile food preparers license which allows chicago food trucks to now cook on-board. This historic moment for the restaurant and dining scene was added to by the fact that we had the pleasure of working with owner, Dan Salls on the first first food truck to ever cook on board, The Salsa Truck.

Kaper Design was responsible for the branding, logo, truck design, packaging, and all other printed goods. Here are a few images of our work;

Abi-Haus

Name: Abi-Haus
Location: Abilene, TX
Lettering: Tanamachi Studio

With the notion that 'everything is bigger in texas' I'd have to say that this pint sized space is pretty big on the details.

Opened by graphic designer and teacher and a friend from the local air force base, they brought a passion for good food and great design together to create a space atypical for the Texas area. 

Using a neutral material palate of multiple woods pair with white walls, the true design comes through from the custom typography evident on all of the walls. 

The custom graphics gives the space a handcrafted, authentic, and inviting atmosphere while keeping this cohesive and high styled.

Images 1,2 © Wade Griffith's Flickr

Image 3-5 © Tanamachi Studio

Graphic Bar

Name: Graphic Bar
Location: London

Located in the heart of London, the Graphic Bar created a merge of interior & graphic design. Using typeface and bold colors, the space feels urban, bright, and hip. One of my favorite components is the large letters blocked out on the garage door facades. Keeping the rest of the space neutral in color and using raw materials like wood, concrete and brick allow the graphics inside to tell the story. 

 See more after the jump.

All photos © Graphic Bar

Cafe Luc

Name: Cafe Luc
Location: London
Branding & Graphic design: Here Design

Today comes to you with another great example of brand identity for restaurants.

 The most common element I witness clients and restauranteurs miss, is brand identity. In order to be successful you must set your space up as a unique experience. Your space must be recognizable and your message needs to be carried through throughout the diners experience. With social media growing faster every day, most customers dining experiences actually start well before they arrive at your space. Establishing your identity and message through graphic design, web design, and social media presence cannot be brushed off. Cafe Luc did a great job of translating the dining experience you will have within the space, to their identity, branding, and logo. All aspects communicate a chic, comfortable, upscale and classic vibe, take a look;

Image 1-6 © Design Work Life

Image 7-10 © Tuannhaid

Super Whatnot

Name: Super Whatnot
Location: Brisbane
Architect: Marc&Co


Located in an old industrial building, Super Whatnot is a great example of quality branding, graphic design, and interior design. All crucial components that must work seamlessly together in order to create a visually successful space. With light wood, exposed brick, metal bar finishes, and exposed metal beams, the interior gives in to an urban/ industrial vibe while the penny tile, bar stools, wood stools and banquettes all add an element of vintage to the mix. The branding and graphic design finishes out the mix and pulls the entire urban/vintage/ industrial vibe together.

The combination of wood, intricate metal work, and exposed brick is wonderful. Perfectly industrial but just polished enough to feel finished and not gritty.

Photos 1-7 © AECCafe

Photos 8- 10 © Design Work Life

Cocotte

Name: Cocotte
Location: Singapor
Design: Branding by Foreign Policy Design

Located in Singapore, Cocotte serves up rustic, French cuisine in a setting fitting of the food. The space feels comfortable and rustic and showcases a mix of industrial furnishings and antique french accessories. Foreign Policy Design created the graphic design and identity for the space and did a great job mixing the comfortable, rustic aesthetic with an urban, modern edge. One of my favorite elements of the space is the brightly painted Tolix chairs and Mooi pendant hanging overhead. It perfectly encapsulates the overall feel of the restaurant.

Pendant fixture design by Ron Gilads for Mooi

 

All Images © Whitezine via Cocotte

The Power of Branding in Restaurants

One over-looked element of restaurant design (that just happens to be one of my favorite parts of the process) is branding. Typography, color, lines, graphics and patterns. The process of creating an identity for a space follows much of the same process as interior design. Branding and graphic design can elevate a design and turn a great design into a show-stopper. Here are a few examples of branding and graphic design done well in the restaurant environment.

The National, NYC

The Barn, Berkinshire (via. & via.)

 

The Red Canoe, Brooklyn (via. & via.)
  

And Lastly, you might remember Capital Kitchen from an earlier post I did on their interior. Here is the branding that goes along with their amazing interior. (via.)