About project

Ember is a cafe in Saratov that combines Italian and local cuisine, specialty coffee, and an in-house full-cycle bakery. Conceived as an everyday place, it avoids formality while maintaining a strong focus on quality, with particular attention to locally sourced ingredients. The founders brought together an outstanding team of local producers and farmers around the project. The interior was designed by a Saratov-based studio with international awards. Each contributor is well known among the city’s food and culture community — and I was fortunate to become part of this team.

Role

I was invited to create the café’s visual identity. The project later evolved into a two-year collaboration, during which I worked as a designer across a wide range of brand assets — from seasonal menu design to an animated wayfinding map.

Solutions

The process began with a brand platform, where we defined the positioning: high-quality local cuisine without unnecessary formality. As a starting point, I created a custom wordmark with a contemporary reference to Saratov’s merchant heritage — an important part of the city’s cultural identity. A descriptor was added to introduce a subtle Italian mood. The next step was developing a distinctive line illustration style — minimal yet recognisable. This approach became the foundation for a set of pictograms used as key brand elements. Dusty cornflower blue and cream create a calm, relaxed feel, while dark navy and peach are occasionally introduced as accents to add depth. The finishing touch was Juneau by Philip Neumeyer — a typeface that feels both welcoming and disciplined, fitting the concept perfectly, with a distinctive character that strengthens the brand identity.