13/08/18

Spinach client Ichibuns shortlisted for Restaurant & Bar Design Awards

Branding

Spinach Branding is thrilled to see our client Ichibuns shortlisted for the annual Restaurant & Bar Design Awards. We worked closely with this highly innovative restaurant concept to help bring it to life by creating a unique brand identity, product and packaging design, and an interactive website. Ichibuns opened successfully on Wardour Street in Soho at the end of 2017 to great public and critical acclaim.

Ichibuns is a Japanese-inspired dining concept founded on the principles of sourcing the finest of ingredients to create colourful, affordable, and soulful dishes. From the team behind Nobu, Busaba Eathai, and Ping Pong, Ichibuns pays homage to the creativity of modern Japan, its subcultures, and the quintessential American diner.

Working closely with seasoned restaurateur Robin Leigh and the famed Japanese interior designer Studio Glitt, we created the Ichibuns brand from scratch, drawing inspiration from Japan’s culinary capital Hokkaido, Tadanori Yokoo’s psychedelic pop art and the country’s enduring cutesy culture of kawaii.

The Ichibuns concept brings together a multitude of themes for a unique dining experience. Our brand identity was therefore created in layers to reflect this cultural, creative, and culinary collage. The idea is that it can be mixed and matched, simplified, or amplified – depending on the application.

Ichibuns also asked our team at Spinach to create the product and packaging design. Building on the unique identity we helped create, we crafted bespoke packaging to expand on the Ichibuns dining experience. Wagyu burgers and ramen soups are central to the indulgent menu, and the Tokyo rock ’n’ roll meets American diner concept, so we created a box and bowl that hits the same energetic and upbeat tone.

To complete the brand experience, Spinach designed a unique website for Ichibuns. Taking the brand on-line allowed us to extend the customer experience while adding an element of fun and playfulness.

We wish the Ichibuns team the very best at the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards ceremony which takes place in London on 4 October.

Learn more about the Ichibuns project as Spinach creative director Adam Thomas discusses the design process and our branding director Leigh Banks talks through the Spinach branding approach.

Spinach Branding is a specialist branding agency based in London. We work with established businesses and start-ups around the world to build and refine their brands. See how we work and get in touch to discuss your brand.