01 Oakland Restaurant Branding

@SUSHIBAE510 is a Japanese restaurant with influences from Latin America located in the heart of Oakland, CA. The client, a high school acquaintance, reached out to me after seeing my posted art and previous projects. When they decided to open their restaurant, they felt my style aligned with their vision for the launch and brand identity.

Project Objectives:

• Establish a brand identity from the ground up, including logo, typography, color palette, and branding guidelines

• Enhance recognizability across all platforms, creating designs that reflect the client’s vision and stand out in a competitive market.

• Develop versatile branding that can be applied across digital platforms, physical signage, and promotional materials.

Process:

• Discovery & Research: Conducted in-depth discussions with the client to understand their vision, target audience, and competitive landscape. Gathered inspiration from industry trends and similar brands.

• Concept Development: Created initial mood boards, sketches, and worked with the client throughout process to refine the designs.

• Design Execution: Designed the logo, selected typography, and crafted a color palette that reflected the brand’s identity. Developed branding guidelines to ensure consistency.

• Application Testing: Mocked up designs on various platforms, including social media, menus, and storefront signage, to ensure adaptability.

• Final Deliverables: Provided a comprehensive brand package, including all design files, branding guidelines, and mockups.

Challenges & Solutions:

• Challenge: Limited feedback loop with the client.

• Solution: Created an interactive feedback tool to streamline collaboration.

Results & Impact:

• Successfully launched the restaurant with a cohesive and memorable brand identity.

• Increased local visibility and customer engagement.

• Established a strong foundation for future branding opportunities, i.e. merch.