Cha.ology
Capturing the Environment
We captured the environment of the space using an illustration style that was a modern take on a traditional Japanese style.
One side of the space features a raised wooden seating area, with low tables and cushions on the floor for seats with a strict no-shoe policy. We created Signage and Wayfinding that directed the customers visually, through illustration, which is a universal language. This allowed us to communicate the same message to both English and Japanese natives without using written translations.
Bringing a Slice of Japan to Manchester
We had the pleasure of developing the Branding and Spatial design for Cha.ology; A unique Japanese Teahouse that has recently opened it’s doors in the heart of Manchester City Centre. The Teahouse aims to capture the tradition and heritage of Japan in a clean, sophisticated and contemporary way that works for the Westernised market. We worked alongside Hong Kong born founder of Cha.ology, Mei Lee on creating a contemporary brand that is firmly rooted in Japanese Heritage.
The Tatami System
It was important that the overall identity for Cha.ology was heavily influenced by the traditional tea-drinking culture of Japan. We found our inspiration in the Tatami Flooring System. The tatami is a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms. They are made from a series of blocks that stack and slot together in a grid-like formation. We used this grid as a based for our Brandmark. The words Cha.ology were split and placed inside different shaped tatami blocks which then created a dynamic, interchangeable brandmark that references the environment and interior of the teahouse.
Precision Meets Playfulness
We carried on the Tatami concept through into the Grid Systems that are used throughout the brand. The menus for example are made entirely of different sized blocks that stack and slot together to create a modern interpretation of the traditional Japanese Culture. The menus needed to contain two columns which housed both English and Japanese translations and the grids helped us keep structure and a form to this process.
