AFFAIR - Restaurant & Gastrobar

DIRECTION Rendezvous, sensual and decadent
INSPIRATION In the Mood for Love & Matisse

THE IDENTITY
Affair is a romantic idea, so that’s how the idea of looking for serifs with ears, spurs, and pronounced arms began—and ones with food names (it’s a restaurant, why not?). The “ff” ligature, which was part of the vision, is used for a light touch of decadence, a nostalgic love. For the branding, I expanded icons and the muse - Carlota - they were born to craft a narrative that cohesively binds the space, which presented a physical challenge due to its two-floor layout with distinct functions.

THE SPACE
This narrative was incorporated into the graphic design of the space, along with signage and messages dispersed throughout. The muse Carlota is depicted, drawing inspiration from Matisse’s simplified forms - the shapes - a testament to the pursuit of pleasure and aesthetic perfection, aligning with the highest standards of culinary excellence.

THE MENU CHALLENGES
It was a real challenge to design an A3 size menu that is a blend of Portuguese and French culinary, with dishes named after Portuguese cities/locations and on top of that - translated into three languages. My first attempt was to design a menu that felt like a diary, with manual cloth binding made by me. Unfortunately, it was not approved due to production costs. To adapt, the A3 menu contemplated the icons, resembling letter stamps - my idea to still evoque the feeling of an artifact.

THE COCKTAILS
The signature cocktails are deserving of a different highlight and strategy. The concept was developed into a series of collectible postcards, featuring the cocktail recipe and a unique illustration from four works by Matisse and four by Picasso. This initiative highlights the real-life dynamic between the artists, characterized by a mutual admiration and inspiration, with a muse consistently present in their works.