Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Intermediate Design 2015 Rebranding Choices

Clumpies Ice Cream Co.

Clumpies is a local ice cream shop on Fraizer St. in the downtown district of Chattanooga. The shop sells handcrafted flavors in small batches which include both traditional and store-only featured flavors. Looking at the sign, the only indication that this is an ice cream shop is the explicitly stated "Ice Cream" designation. I'd like to see a design that incorporates more than just the name of the shop. Of course, sometimes less is more; however, in this case, rebranding the store to give a friendlier and more local vibe might set it apart from the competing big-name corporate creameries. I'd choose to rebrand this ice cream store to showcase its uniqueness and to exhibit the fact that local ice cream is made here.  

Mean Mug Coffee House

Mean Mug Coffee House is located in West Main St. in downtown Chattanooga. It has a very local and warm atmosphere as soon as you enter the shop, with its incandescent lighting and handwritten menu displayed on the chalkboard. The coffee house is open for breakfast and lunch, and also hosts local events in the store such as Poetry Night. If anything, the label "Mean Mug" is a misnomer because the shop exudes nothing but local hipster-ness, warmth, and amiability. Perhaps it means that the shop offers a "mean cup 'ol Joe". In any case, the reason I'd redesign the branding is so that the both signs, outside and indoors, are consistent while reflecting the disparate nature of the shop and its name.

Nabi Sushi/Totto Sushi & Grill/Sekisui Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Lounge

Nabe Sushi, pictured in the top-left labeled, "Sushi Bar", Totto Sushi & Grill, and Sekisui are all Japanese sushi restaurants with similar class, price, and locale. They're all located in Chattanooga's downtown district and serve similar menus, hence why they're grouped in the same category. I would choose one of these three to rebrand because none of them reflect the upscale nature of the food and setup found inside. The one that comes the closest is Sekisui, and Nabe Sushi just says "Sushi Bar" above its door outside. These stores can all use rebranding so that their logos match their products and audience.