A lot of the work I feature is simple, minimalistic design. Why? Because it works. It’s clear and engaging. However, every now and then I come across an uber-produced restaurant brand identity that breaks the mold. This is one such identity. The rustic, grungy treatments for the advertising and splatter effects create a vibe of freedom and artistry in the kitchen. The fiery colors evoke flavors and scents that make you want to try out La Fianna. Designed by Agree Studio.

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Tap jumped out at me from the start. Not just because of the graphic design, but also because of the production. It’s rare that a restaurant will take printing this far (see menu design.) The menu is a beast with full color graphic elements, and sheets that are interchangeable – a big plus for any restaurant that changes its menu seasonally. The graphic elements all seem to follow an infographic-like feel with diagrams and charts. Definitely something new and different. And, hey, it’s here in Atlanta so maybe I’ll be stopping in this weekend. Designed by Boy Burns Barn.

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The brand identity design for the restaurant, Taco Republic, boasts a handmade, street-style vibe. With strong reds, yellows, and browns, mixed with handdrawn typographical treatments, the branding captures the temperature and flavor of this tex-mex style taco joint. I love the heraldry in the logo treatment as seen on the shirt and the patch. I’d love to see some takeout packaging here to extend the brand further. Designed by Nosh Creative.

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Steve Hamaker designed the brand identity and supporting brand elements for Urban Stack Burger Lounge. Black and white. Simple. Strong typography and a bit of wit here and there wrap up a strong brand identity for this restaurant experience. Everything down to the coasters was well thought out and executed to not just hold the logo, but extend the brand’s vibe and personality.

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Not an expansive study, but the brand identity for Fedora restaurant is still strong. The Art Deco influenced typeface gives an air of notoriety and classic luxury. Combined with a limited color palette it creates an upscale feel that doesn’t rely on anything but strong typography and color. The brand logo easily turns into a pattern as seen on the inside of the matchbook which is an unexpected design element that sends the restaurant’s brand home. Designed by STG54

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The brand for Metro Buffet & Grill is driven by photography, great photography. With a strong black, white, and red color palette it gives off a clean, crisp feel which are elements not usually found in your traditional buffet setting. I like the way the Asian characters follow the same style as the typeface used throughout. It adds continuity not often seen and not easily executed. Designed by Power Point Creative.

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Mangold’s, a vegetarian restaurant, underwent a huge renovation. Part of the renovation was rebranding the restaurant and updating its image. The people at Moodley handled the job of refacing Mangolds to visually tell a tale of “cool” vegetarian food. The new logo is a mixup of the letters in Mangolds. I’m not 100% on its interpretation though as it’s hard to read, but once understood it’s actually new an different. The rest of the identity, however; plays out very well and creates a fresh, crisp look for the restaurant. There are ton more photos at the Moodley site, but here are a few to view.

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The brand identity for Mariposa features a simple color palette and typography. Mixing classic, Art Deco type with a vibrant red-orange speaks to the simplicity and richness of the food itself. Designed by La Tigre. Mariposa is a shop selling fresh pastas.

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What an amazing way to “advertise” appliances than with a pop-up experience. That’s the Social Kitchen. It was a pop-up food experience that showed off the products and culinary skills of a couple of chefs. The brand is stark, but powerful. It’s minimal but full of impact. Here’s what was said about the concept:

“‘Visitors should pre­pare for a sensory-challenging exhi­bi­tion, with new per­spec­tives on kitchen tra­di­tions, inno­v­a­tive design solu­tions and care­fully crafted taste expe­ri­ences,’ explains Mark Elmore, Head of Industrial Designer for Fisher & Paykel.

Dubbed the Social Kitchen, it’s a pop-up expe­ri­ence where food, fur­ni­ture and the appli­ances com­bine in a work of art and func­tion­al­ity. The Social Kitchen is about explor­ing and chal­leng­ing con­ven­tional ideas about the kitchen and its evolv­ing role as a social hub in our every­day lives...”

The experience was designed by Alt Group for Fisher & Paykel

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The brand identity for Rockfish is campy… seriously… it’s CAMPY, but not in the negative way. Rockfish pulls its identity’s elements from the great outdoors to create a literal correlation between its food and its food’s origins. The place is approachable and down to earth and the restaurant’s packaging and menus push that feeling through their design. Designed by One Fast Buffalo.

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