Aila Dokuz Sekiz Identity

Luxury Speciality Restaurant Identity

Aila is Fairmont Quasar Istanbul's high-end specialty restaurant featuring a reinterpretation of the traditional Turkish ocakbasi grill in a sophisticated contemporary setting with a strong art deco influence. The project included the naming of the venue as well as logo design and design and production of all collateral materials, including dining, wine, bar, and lunch menus.

The logo captures the deco vibe and Turkish personality of the space along with its distinctive blue notes and encapsulates them in a distinctive and elegant logo that is memorably translated into premium collateral materials highlighting custom crafted natural materials.

The menus were produced from white oak veneer that was hand-painted in translucent black using a smear and wipe sponge technique, highlighting the grain and texture of the wood that also let some of the wood's natural color peek through the paint. The logo emblem was produced from acid-etched bronze-tinted brass with navy enamel applied to the acid-etched areas and then inset into the oak of the menu itself. The menu's spine is vegetal-dyed leather, and the content is printed on 140-gram cream Garda stock. The closed dimensions of the largest menu are 23 x 32 cm, and the printed content is A4 size.

The work, through its visual sophistication and superior materials and craftsmanship, enhances the dining experience and reinforces the brand's luxury positioning. The creative process, including menu design, took roughly three months, while production of all menus, due to the artisanal nature of the work, took just over one and a half months.

Production research into materials and production techniques was a key element in this project and contributed significantly to the effectiveness and appeal of the finished product. The greatest challenge in this project was to create an elegant and striking identity and menus while remaining true to the traditional soul of ocakbasi grill culture, which dictated the choice of natural materials, artisanal production methods, and a historicizing sensibility.

Design Team Members: Agency President and Production Manager - Beau Higgins, Creative Director - Ross Connard, Account Supervisor and Strategist - Yousra El Garah, Copywriter - Fatih Melek.

This Design was awarded Iron in A' Graphics, Illustration, and Visual Communication Design Award in 2018. Iron A' Design Award: Awarded to well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. Respected for integrating industry best practices and competent technical characteristics, they provide fulfillment and positive feelings, contributing to a better world.