• Manhattan-based luxury dog hotel Barkhouse has two separate audiences to please: the humans who make the reservations and pay the bills, and the canine guests. The luxury pet category is a tricky one: on one hand, the identity has to suggest a refined, elevated experience. But it also needs to exude warmth, caring, and the raw love that dogs give and receive.
Crown Creative didn’t pick a lane with its logo solution. It combined a bold sans serif, Conforto, and a sophisticated serifed face, Coconot, for each half of the Barkhouse name. Conforto creates an onomatopoeia-like effect for BARK: like most dogs, it is loud and energetic. “House” feels more sophisticated and hotel-like. The combined message makes perfect sense.
Read more at crowncreative.com
• Mizkan, which produces a wide range of Japanese vinegars, sauces, marinades and cooking wines, wanted to make Japanese cooking feel more approachable to European consumers—that is, it wanted to create “Japan-ease.” Creative agency Robot Food built on that coined phrase to build a new identity for the company.
The designers left the original two-faced logo mostly alone, as it symbolizes the duality of two cultures. But it did move the Japanese character icon above the wordmark, then built on that icon. From the Robot Food website: “Iconography, inspired by eki stamps found in Japanese train stations, are ‘Easter eggs’ for those familiar with the culture, but also as functional design elements to help consumers use and navigate the products…. Modern reinterpretations of traditional Japanese patterns are a clear visual shortcut to Japan and nod to Mizkan’s authentic roots.”
