Spellbound Ramen
Branding / Print / Web / Illustration
The Challenge & Solution
A dream project of mine is the creation and implementation of a branding system for a restaurant. Rather than wait for a client project I decided to build one from scratch just for fun! Spellbound Ramen is a Los Angeles based ramen shop that offers traditional ramen cuisine with an atmospheric wizard-like setting. Very illustration-heavy and quite whimsical, Spellbound Ramen aims to remind people that eating good food is a magical experience in and of itself.
Where Tradition & Whimsy Collide
Since Spellbound Ramen is entirely self-initiated, I decided I’d give it a fake project brief complete with an imaginary client that was going for a specific look. Here’s what they (hypothetically) had to say: We’re here to offer traditional delicious ramen to the community of Los Angeles, Ca. This is the type of ramen our parents made for us when we were kids. We want to remind people how magical it is to eat a perfect bowl of ramen after a long day. One could say it’s spellbinding.
The Magic of a Transforming Logo
The client wanted something that hinted at the concept of “magic” while also touching on their traditionally-made noodles. Starting with a word map, the word “wizard” popped to mind when thinking of “magic.” My nerdy brain immediately jumps to Dungeons & Dragons territory and the idea of a cool-looking bearded wizard. From there the idea transformed to a wizard eating a bowl of ramen that alluded to both a beard AND noodles.
Whimsical Imagery - Noodles Come to Life!
Arguably the most essential assets of Spellbound Ramen are the visuals used for all the deliverables. From the noodle pattern to a cauldron filled with noodles, I wanted each piece to be a unification of magical ramen. I even wanted the beverages to act out as potions, tying it together with the “magic” theme. Each piece has a touch of whimsy with a texture that says it’s an authentically established brand.