Wake Up Coffee House: Illustrating a Friendly Facade

Bringing Characters to Life through Environmental Graphics

Wake Up Coffee House stands out from other cafes with its unique approach to environmental graphics. The illustrations on the facade serve as a visual menu, showcasing a variety of drinks and desserts in the form of endearing characters. From coffee beans to brewing methods and delectable treats, each element is transformed into a friendly face, inviting customers to explore the cafe's offerings.

One of the key considerations in the design process was the cost of implementation. To keep expenses low, the facade is adorned with white vinyl stickers instead of costly hand-painted artwork. The use of contour-cut stickers without color printing not only reduces production costs but also ensures that the illustrations are visible from a distance.

The technical specifications of the facade are impressive, with a width of 7385 mm and a height of 2180 mm. This large-scale canvas allows the illustrations to make a bold statement and capture the attention of passersby.

Osokin's research into European and Russian cafe facades influenced the design of Wake Up Coffee House. While many cafes opt for minimal graphics or logos, Osokin recognized the need to draw more attention to a cafe located within a shopping center. By utilizing graphics on the glass facade, the coffee house stands out and piques curiosity.

One of the challenges faced during the design process was the limitation of using only one color. However, Osokin skillfully overcame this obstacle by infusing the characters with personality and emotion. The absence of strict geometric shapes adds to their friendliness, while the eyes and smiles cut out from the shape of each object convey a sense of warmth and invitation. Additionally, Osokin created unique Cyrillic lettering for each character, catering to the predominantly Russian-speaking clientele.

The Wake Up Coffee House facade tells a story, transforming it from a mere collection of graphic objects into a captivating narrative. The illustrations, designed to be easily readable at various distances, create a sense of intrigue and leave a lasting impression on visitors.

Wake Up Coffee House's innovative environmental graphics have garnered recognition in the design community. In 2018, the design was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Graphics, Illustration, and Visual Communication Design category. This prestigious accolade celebrates the cafe's well-designed, practical, and innovative approach, which meets professional and industrial standards while providing a fulfilling and positive experience for customers.